An oversight inspection has identified 49 violations of detention standards at Camp East Montana, the largest migrant detention complex in the United States, located in El Paso, Texas.
The review was carried out by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office of detention oversight and was conducted over three days in February as part of a congressionally mandated inspection. The agency released the resulting report this week.
The document records 49 "deficiencies" at the facility, which had a construction price tag of $1.2 billion and is referred to in the report by its name, Camp East Montana. The report describes a "deficiency" as any breach of detention standards, applicable policies, or operational procedures.
Of the 49 deficiencies cataloged, 22 were related to the "use of force and restraints," 11 dealt with "facility security and control," and five pertained to "medical care," according to the inspection findings.
Political context and scrutiny
The report arrives against the backdrop of an administration-wide, hardline immigration policy pursued by President Donald Trump, which has drawn condemnation from rights organizations and other critics who say the approach violates due process and free speech. Advocacy groups have also asserted that the enforcement posture has fostered an unsafe environment for minorities and raised concerns about racial profiling.
The administration has defended its actions as measures intended to bolster domestic security and to reduce illegal migration.
Deaths and facility complaints
ICE has said that at least 14 immigrants have died in its custody from January 2026 through late March of the same year. That figure follows 31 deaths recorded last year, a total described in the report’s context as a two-decade high for the agency.
Of the reported deaths in 2026, at least two occurred at Camp East Montana, the inspection noted. The facility has also attracted criticism from members of Congress and local officials. Late last year, U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, visited the site and reported that detainees were experiencing foul-tasting drinking water, spoiled food and insufficient medical care.
The inspection report and recent mortality figures contribute to ongoing oversight concerns about conditions across ICE detention sites.