ICE says El Paso detention facility will stay open under new contractor after $1.2B deal scrapped
Key Takeaways
- ICE says Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, will remain open under a new contractor after ending a $1.2 billion agreement.
- The agency claims upgrades: expanded on-site medical care, increased staffing, and a new quality assurance surveillance plan.
- It has been reported that the facility faced possible closure; ICE frames the contract termination as an effort to raise standards.
- The new contractor’s identity and implementation timeline were not disclosed, leaving operational details pending for detainees and attorneys.
What ICE says is changing
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency, told Fox News Digital that Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss will not close and is “upgrading” operations under a new provider. The agency said the move followed termination of a prior $1.2 billion contract and will maintain what it described as the highest detention standards while strengthening ICE’s direct oversight. An ICE spokesperson referenced “Secretary Noem’s termination of the old contract,” a characterization that could not be independently verified and appears unusual given federal procurement norms.
Oversight, medical care, and staffing
According to ICE, the incoming contractor will add on‑site medical capacity, increase staffing levels, and implement a “precise” quality assurance surveillance plan to monitor performance. ICE civil detention holds noncitizens in removal proceedings or after arrest by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO); conditions are governed by detention standards that address health care, safety, and access to counsel. For people in custody and the attorneys who represent them, the promised upgrades—if delivered—could affect medical response times, grievance handling, and day‑to‑day facility operations.
The backstory—and why it matters now
The Washington Post reported that internal ICE documents indicated the agency was drafting a letter to terminate the facility’s contract and that closure was being weighed. ICE, however, told Fox News Digital the termination is part of an effort to raise standards and improve services. Practically, the decision to keep Camp East Montana open preserves detention bed space in the El Paso sector, meaning individuals detained in the region are more likely to remain locally housed rather than face long‑distance transfers that can disrupt attorney access and family contact.
What’s next
Key details remain unclear: ICE did not identify the new contractor or provide a transition timeline. Until those are disclosed, immigrants, legal service providers, and local officials may see interim changes as operations shift. Individuals with loved ones at Camp East Montana should monitor ICE’s online detainee locator and facility notices for updates on visitation, medical services, and attorney access policies as the new agreement rolls out.
Source: Original Article