Texas Democrat demands that El Paso detention center be shut down

Camp East Montana in El Paso has been operational for six months, and at least three people have died at the site since December 2025.

A coalition of congressional Democrats led by US Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons calling for the immediate closure of Camp East Montana in El Paso.

The letter cites urgent humanitarian concerns, unsafe conditions, and serious deficiencies in medical care after multiple deaths at the ICE facility.

Three detainees died while in custody over a six-week span starting in December: Francisco Gaspar-Andres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, and Victor Manuel Diaz. Campos’ death was ruled a homicide involving facility staff.

The letter also cited rotten and insufficient food, unsuitable drinking water, and plumbing issues.

“There have been constant and consistent problems at the facility since it opened, beginning with the facility’s poor construction and poor ambient temperature control,” Escobar wrote. “Upon opening, the drinking water at Camp East Montana tasted foul and made some detainees sick. Detainees continue to be served inadequate meals, including food that is rotten or frozen; last fall, the facility was also consistently failing to make dietary accommodations for detainees.” 

Detainees have “sporadic access to outside spaces and recreational areas,” according to the letter, and the Democrats’ biggest concern is “inadequate” medical care.

“Our offices have heard that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit and that there are inconsistencies as to how soon after arriving detainees are able to undergo initial medical screenings,” she said. “Detainees with chronic health issues who rely on regimented medications for their health have had difficulty accessing necessary medications, including blood pressure medication and insulin.”

According to ICE’s own account, Gaspar-Andres, who died at the facility on Dec. 3, sought medical attention from staff for increasing symptoms, but was only transferred to an area hospital once his condition had severely deteriorated.

“Camp East Montana must be shut down,” Escobar wrote. “For the safety of everyone at the facility, for an end to abuses to detainees, and for fiscal responsibility to the American people, the site cannot continue to operate. We are calling on DHS and ICE to move to immediately close operations at Camp East Montana.”

This is the fourth message Escobar has sent to DHS and ICE, as the first three have gone unanswered. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) and Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston) also signed the letter.

This is not the first call for the closure of Camp East Montana, which is the largest ICE facility in the country. In January, the ACLU of Texas urged the Trump administration to shutter the detention facility following Campos’ death. 

ICE is continuing to expand its presence in Texas, with reports that DHS recently spent $122.8 million on a 826,000-square-foot warehouse meant to hold detainees in Socorro, which is located outside of El Paso.