Congress’ Watchdog Finds Major Lapses in Oversight at ICE Facility

ICE documented “gaps in medical services, the loss of a loaded firearm and unsanitary conditions” at Camp East Montana.

A sign marks the entrance to a series of hardened tents at the Camp East Montana immigrant detention center.

Three immigrants have died while detained at Camp East Montana. Morgan Lee/AP

Congress’ watchdog identified serious oversight problems at the country’s largest immigration detention center, including unsanitary conditions and inadequate tuberculosis screenings and health assessments.

A new Government Accountability Office report follows an Immigration and Customs Enforcement inspection that found dozens of safety violations at Camp East Montana.

Three immigrants have died at the tent detention center near the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, since it opened in August. City officials also reported two cases of tuberculosis and 18 COVID-19 cases earlier this year, The Texas Tribune reported.