EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — An internal ICE inspection found dozens of problems at Camp East Montana, a migrant detention center on Fort Bliss.
The inspection was conducted Feb. 10 through 12 by ICE’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The report identified 49 deficiencies across the facility, including issues involving security, medical care and how staff documented use of force.
In one case, the report said a detainee escaped after staff were not assigned to conduct perimeter checks. Investigators also cited other security problems, including tools left unsecured and unaccounted for throughout the facility.
The report also found problems with how staff documented use-of-force incidents, including missing reports, a lack of documented medical checks and failures in how those incidents were reviewed, including video not being properly documented. The report further found that a detainee with possible tuberculosis was not properly quarantined.
Jordan Salas reports on Internal ICE report details conditions at Camp East Montana (Credit: KFOX14)
Civil rights lawyer Randall Kallinen, who represents the family of Victor Diaz, said the use-of-force findings were among the most concerning. Diaz, a 36-year-old migrant from Nicaragua, died at Camp East Montana. ICE has stated that Diaz’s death was presumed a suicide.
“Some of the striking things about it were the excessive force failures where they didn’t have policies, they didn’t keep videos, they don’t have reports, they didn’t record the injuries to people,” Kallinen said.
The report noted no deficiencies in food service, saying meals met federal nutrition standards.
View the full report below:
The findings came weeks before ICE moved in March to end its contract with the company operating the facility, Acquisition Logistics, and bring in a new contractor, Amentum Services Incorporated. Kallinen said he still has questions about what has changed since the inspection.
“This report just says you got all these problems. Have you made any changes yet? Have you gotten the policies for the excessive force, are you now collecting the videos? Do you have sufficient video cameras for security purposes?” Kallinen said.
After being contacted about what corrective actions were taken since the February inspection and whether the findings played a role in the contractor change, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said ICE brought in a new contractor and that the change will allow for more medical care, more staff and increased oversight.
“ICE has contracted with a new provider following the termination of the old contract inherited from the Department of War. ICE is always looking at ways to improve our detention facilities to ensure we are providing the best care to illegal aliens in our custody,” the spokesperson said. “This new contractor will allow Camp East Montana to continue abiding by the highest detention standards with the ability to provide more medical care on-site. This contract also allows more on-site staff and a precise quality assurance surveillance plan. ICE will have even more oversight of the contractors at this facility. Far from closing, Camp East Montana is upgrading.”
The spokesperson added that Amentum “has been a close partner with ICE in managing Camp East Montana,” and said the company’s “size, maturity and pedigree make them the right partner at the right time.” The spokesperson said ICE will continue to ensure detainees receive “the level of care, service, and medical support they need to match our high detention standards.”
A follow-up request asking whether any of the deficiencies were fixed and whether the inspection played a role in the contract change did not receive a response.
The report also noted that detainees interviewed did not report abuse and generally described conditions as satisfactory.
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