Texas ICE Detention Centre Faces Permanent Closure Following Measles Outbreak
A troubled U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in Texas has been placed under strict quarantine following a significant measles outbreak, with mounting pressure potentially leading to its permanent closure. The Camp East Montana facility, which opened just eight months ago under the Trump administration, has been embroiled in controversy since its inception, facing numerous allegations of substandard conditions and reporting several detainee deaths.
Quarantine Measures and Health Crisis
The detention centre, located on the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, has been closed to all visitors and legal representatives until at least March 20 due to the measles outbreak. According to U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat who has been advocating for the facility's closure, there are currently 14 active measles cases at the centre, with 112 individuals placed in isolation.
"While on one hand, it is a good thing that the measles outbreak is being taken seriously, on the other hand, I am alarmed that a preventable crisis has created conditions where detainees can only access their lawyers virtually," Escobar stated in an official release. She further described the facility as experiencing "crisis after crisis" since its opening last year.
Contract Termination Considerations
According to reports from The Washington Post, internal ICE documents indicate that a letter terminating the camp's contract has already been drafted, suggesting that closure procedures may already be underway. The facility, designed to accommodate up to 5,000 detainees, was opened in August last year after the Trump administration awarded a substantial $1.2 billion contract to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia-based contractor with no prior experience operating ICE facilities.
Despite these reports, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that no final decisions have been made regarding the facility's future. DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis emphasized that the department is conducting a thorough review of Camp East Montana to ensure compliance with legally required standards, stating, "no decisions have been made related to contract extension, termination, or award."
History of Controversies and Violations
The detention centre has faced intense scrutiny since its opening, with multiple reports highlighting serious deficiencies:
- Three deaths have been reported at the facility, including a Cuban migrant held in solitary confinement whose death was ruled a homicide in an autopsy report from January
- An internal ICE detention oversight report from September documented 60 violations of federal standards within just 50 days
- Allegations include inadequate medical care, poor hygiene conditions, and failure to provide proper legal access for detainees
Representative Escobar has been particularly vocal about the conditions, claiming, "It became very clear to me early on that serious medical issues were being overlooked and, in some cases, medical attention was non-existent for urgent health issues." She also noted consistently substandard access to basic services including hygiene, janitorial, and laundry facilities.
National Measles Context
The outbreak at Camp East Montana occurs against a backdrop of increasing measles cases across the United States. Last year saw 2,144 reported cases across 44 states, resulting in three fatalities among unvaccinated individuals. Texas alone reported 762 cases with two child deaths, though experts believe these numbers likely represent an undercount.
Measles, caused by a highly contagious airborne virus, spreads easily through breathing, sneezing, or coughing. Although the disease was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, the country now faces the potential loss of this status when officials convene in November this year, reflecting the severity of the current outbreak situation.
Ongoing Review and Future Uncertainty
The existing contract for Camp East Montana is scheduled to run until September 2027, but the draft termination letter referenced in media reports does not specify a potential closure date. DHS has consistently defended its detention facilities, with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin previously stating, "any claim that there are 'inhumane' conditions at ICE detention centers are categorically false" and emphasizing that detainees receive proper meals, medical treatment, and communication opportunities.
As the quarantine continues and the review process unfolds, the future of Camp East Montana remains uncertain, with public health concerns adding further urgency to ongoing debates about immigration detention practices and facility standards in the United States.
