Three Contractors Cited for Safety Violations in Worker Death at ICE Detention Camp
Federal regulators have cited three contractors, including one owned by a prominent donor to former President Donald Trump, for serious safety violations connected to the death of a worker during the construction of a major immigration detention center last year.
Details of the Fatal Incident and Investigation
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the July 21, 2025, death of Hector Gonzalez, a 38-year-old worker who was crushed by falling materials in a construction accident. The incident occurred as contractors raced to build Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas. OSHA's investigation, which is routine for workplace fatalities, aimed to determine whether safety protocols were followed.
While OSHA declined to cite the prime contractor, Acquisition Logistics, it sought penalties against three subcontractors involved in the camp's construction. The companies—Base International, JMJ Production Services, and Fulfillment Personnel Services—were cited in January for violations of safety standards related to the use of powered industrial trucks.
Specific Violations and Penalties
OSHA found that Base International, which employed Gonzalez, violated safety standards by exposing employees to "struck-by hazards" from an unstable, elevated load of stacked composite beams on a forklift during unloading operations. The other two companies were cited for similar violations, as well as for failing to ensure employees were certified to operate powered industrial trucks on the site.
JMJ Production Services and Fulfillment Personnel Services each agreed to pay reduced fines of $15,000 in settlements with OSHA in February. However, Base International is contesting its citation, for which OSHA has proposed an $11,585 penalty. If no settlement is reached, an administrative law judge will hold a hearing to consider the appeal.
Political and Contractual Context
The death occurred just days after the Army awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics to build and operate the camp at Fort Bliss, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site opened the following month and quickly became ICE's largest detention center, housing over 3,000 immigrants at times. However, the camp has faced allegations of inhumane conditions, disease outbreaks, and the deaths of three detainees in December and January.
In response to these issues, ICE replaced Acquisition Logistics as the prime contractor last month, awarding a no-bid contract to Amentum Services. Acquisition Logistics, a small Virginia company, had no prior experience running a detention facility.
Watchdog Report and Political Connections
A report released Monday by the watchdog group Public Citizen highlighted the violations and scrutinized the companies profiting from the detention center. The report noted that Base International is owned by Florida businessman Nathan Albers, a donor to Trump and other Republican Party politicians and groups. Albers donated more than $150,000 to Republican campaigns in 2025 and is described as a close associate of the Trump family.
Public Citizen researcher Douglas Pasternak, who authored the report, criticized the situation, stating, "The Trump administration is doling out billions of dollars in taxpayer funds on contracts that have led to the deaths of four people in a six-month period. And things are not likely to improve."
Company Responses and Broader Implications
Base International spokesperson Tom McNicholas stated that the company is appealing the ruling because "there was no wrongdoing by the company." Meanwhile, Juan Munoz, founder of JMJ Production Services, declined to comment, referring inquiries to his attorneys. Fulfillment Personnel Services did not respond to requests for comment.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about workplace safety and the ethical implications of government contracts in immigration detention facilities, particularly amid reports of substandard conditions and political connections influencing procurement processes.
