A federal oversight inspection has uncovered dozens of standards violations at the nation’s largest immigration detention center, according to a report released this week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention oversight office conducted a three-day examination in February at Camp East Montana, a $1.2 billion facility in El Paso, Texas. The congressionally required review identified 49 separate violations of established detention protocols.
The inspection team documented what they termed “deficiencies,” which the report describes as “any violation of detention standards, policies, or operational procedures, as applicable.”
The violations broke down into several concerning categories: 22 infractions involved improper “use of force and restraints,” while 11 related to “facility security and control” issues. An additional five violations concerned “medical care” standards at the detention center.
The facility has drawn intense scrutiny from immigration advocacy organizations who oppose the Trump administration’s hardline immigration enforcement policies. These groups argue the government’s approach violates constitutional protections and creates dangerous conditions for minority communities, while also raising alarms about potential racial profiling practices.
The Trump administration defends its immigration strategy as necessary for enhancing national security and preventing unauthorized border crossings.
ICE detention centers nationwide have come under increasing examination due to concerning trends in detainee deaths. Federal records show at least 14 immigrants died while in ICE custody between January 2026 and late March. This follows 31 deaths during the previous year, marking a 20-year peak in detention facility fatalities.
Camp East Montana has experienced at least two deaths among the 2026 total, according to agency data.
Texas Democratic Representative Veronica Escobar toured the facility in late 2025 and reported disturbing conditions. Following her visit, Escobar described detainees facing “foul-tasting drinking water, rotten food and inadequate healthcare.”
