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ICE Detention Facility in West Texas Faces New Lawsuit Over Hazardous Conditions
By Drooid · · How we work
Allegations of Hazardous Conditions
A federal class-action lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas seeks a preliminary injunction to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remedy what plaintiffs describe as life-threatening health and safety hazards at Camp East Montana, the nation’s largest “tent jail.” Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the ACLU Foundation of Texas, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and law firm Farella Braun + Martel allege that detainees endure severe medical neglect, inadequate food, scarce hygiene supplies, and frequent outbreaks of contagious diseases. They also claim that guards regularly use excessive force, subject detainees to verbal abuse, and have engaged in discriminatory slurs. Specific incidents cited include a detainee who reported extreme hunger and weight loss, a plaintiff who suffered a fractured spine and wrist, and a nurse allegedly encouraging self-harm.
Facility History and Oversight
Camp East Montana opened in August 2025 on the Fort Bliss military base as part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement. In March 2026, ICE replaced its private contractor with Amentum Services, Inc. after three detainee deaths occurred under the previous contractor’s management.
Reported Violations and Health Impacts
The filing details dozens of alleged infractions:
- Repeated measles outbreaks affecting more than a dozen detainees in early 2026, with hundreds placed in quarantine later in the year.
- A tuberculosis case allegedly housed in the general population.
- Persistent lack of soap, shampoo, and nail-clipping tools, forcing detainees to ration minimal supplies.
- Overcrowded, unsanitary living spaces where rain, rodents, and insects infiltrate tents, toilets overflow, and foul odors are constant.
- Medical care reportedly delivered in public hallways or during nighttime hours, sometimes absent altogether.
Official Statements and Responses
The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, has characterized claims of “inhumane” conditions at Camp East Montana as “categorically false.” DHS declined to comment further when approached by the Guardian, directing inquiries to the Pentagon, which referred the outlet back to DHS. No response was obtained from Amentum Services or the Pentagon regarding the specific allegations outlined in the lawsuit.
These developments underscore ongoing legal challenges to the operation of large-scale immigration detention facilities and raise questions about compliance with federal standards for detainee health and safety.