EL PASO, Texas (AP) – Serious medical and mental health emergencies at Camp East Montana, the largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, have become a common occurrence since its opening, according to records obtained through an extensive investigation.
Data and recordings from over a hundred 911 calls, along with interviews and court filings, reveal a troubling situation characterized by overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition, and emotional distress. Reports suggest that the facility, which houses approximately 3,000 detainees daily, operates under conditions described as loud and unsanitary. Detainees have expressed frustrations over difficulties in obtaining necessary health care, worsening living conditions due to the spread of disease, and fear of security personnel who reportedly use excessive force.
One former detainee, Owen Ramsingh, who spent several weeks in the camp before his deportation in February 2023, stated, “Every day felt like a week. Every week felt like a month. Every month felt like a year.” He went on to say that “Camp East Montana was 1,000% worse than a prison.” In response to these serious accusations, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, who chose to remain unnamed, dismissed claims of substandard conditions, asserting that detainees received proper food, water, and medical treatment and that the facility was regularly cleaned.
According to the obtained data, the facility averaged nearly one 911 call per day in its first five months of operation, with a total of 130 calls recorded. Examples include heartbreaking situations where detainees are reported to have attempted self-harm, experienced severe physical health issues, or suffered from mental health crises. A notable incident involved a nurse reporting a pregnant woman in severe pain due to COVID-19, while another call featured a doctor addressing a man banging his head against a wall while declaring suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, multiple emergencies related to seizures and serious injuries were documented, underscoring the alarming conditions at Camp East Montana.
Tragically, the documentation of 911 calls revealed numerous attempts at suicide among detainees. Two specific incidents led to deaths. On January 3, a 55-year-old Cuban man tragically died following an event in which security guards used handcuffs and force to restrain him when he attempted self-harm. The medical examiner subsequently ruled his death as a homicide resulting from asphyxia. Just days later, on January 14, a 36-year-old Nicaraguan man died by suicide while detained after having been apprehended in Minnesota. The records further indicated at least six additional suicide attempts occurred within the facility.
The DHS spokesperson contended that staff at Camp East Montana were tasked with closely monitoring at-risk detainees and providing mental health treatment, but this assurance does little to alleviate concerns. A recent report revealed that an ICE inspection of the facility identified violations of at least 60 federal standards required for immigration detention. However, the specific findings of that inspection have not been publicly released, a stark contrast to other facility inspections that have been made available to the public. Despite claims from DHS that allegations of inadequate conditions were false, the lack of transparency surrounding the inspection results raises further questions.
U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, has called for the immediate closure of the facility, citing the need to address the apparent neglect and suffering of detainees. After visiting the camp several times, she expressed deep concern over the conditions, stating, “This facility should not be operational.” During one visit, a female detainee showed her an inadequate serving of scrambled eggs that was still frozen at the center, further illustrating the food quality issues detainees face.
Escobar is also calling for an investigation into Acquisition Logistics LLC, the contractor responsible for building and operating the camp, which has reportedly received a contract worth up to $1.3 billion. She emphasized that the company and its subcontractors were failing to deliver necessary services despite taxpayer funding. Escobar's remarks brought attention to the potential for exploitation, stating, "People should be moved by the abject cruelty, but if they’re not, I hope they’re moved by the fraud and corruption."
