EL PASO, TEXAS — A new federal watchdog report has identified widespread problems at a large immigration detention facility in Texas, finding millions of dollars in wasteful spending, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and weak oversight during a rapid expansion of federal detention capacity under the Trump administration.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that Camp East Montana, located at Fort Bliss near El Paso, experienced what investigators described as “significant, pervasive issues” after federal officials rushed to increase detention space in 2025.
According to the report, Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a contract worth approximately $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a company with no previous experience operating detention facilities. The contract was issued through expedited procedures as the administration sought to quickly expand detention capacity amid increased immigration enforcement efforts.
GAO investigators found that as much as $11.5 million may have been spent on services that were never used. The report also documented failures in record keeping, missing evidence connected to the homicide death of detainee Geraldo Lunas Campos, inadequate medical treatment for detainees with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and HIV, insufficient tuberculosis screenings, and unsanitary living conditions.
The Department of Homeland Security replaced Acquisition Logistics with Amentum Services Inc. in March 2026 after concerns about facility operations mounted.
The findings come as the administration continues to expand detention capacity nationwide. According to Reuters, the U.S. immigration detention population reached approximately 57,000 detainees in early June, one of the highest levels in recent years.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the findings “damning” and urged greater oversight of the federal detention system. The Department of Homeland Security has said it is working to address deficiencies identified by auditors.
Sources:
* Reuters – MBFC Rating
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