ICE Terminates Contractor at Largest Detention Camp Amid Scrutiny Over Conditions
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is terminating the contractor operating its largest detention facility and replacing it with a more experienced firm tasked with improving medical care and other essential services, the agency announced on Friday. The contractor switch at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, comes as the facility faces intense scrutiny over living conditions that detainees have described as inhumane since its rapid construction and opening last year.
Mounting Evidence of Poor Conditions
With an average of nearly 3,000 detainees housed across six long tent encampments, evidence has accumulated to support claims of severe overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition, and emotional distress. A recent measles outbreak further exacerbated concerns, prompting several Democratic members of Congress to call for the camp's closure. Detainees report struggling to access medication and healthcare, experiencing significant weight loss due to inadequate food supplies, and living in fear of security guards known to use excessive force.
According to an Associated Press report from last week, at least 130 emergency calls were made from the camp in its first five months of operation, including incidents involving two deaths, multiple suicide attempts, violent fights, and medical emergencies. These alarming statistics have fueled public outrage and demands for accountability.
Contractor Switch Details
The ousted prime contractor, Acquisition Logistics, LLC, had been awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion last year to build and manage the camp at the U.S. Army base Fort Bliss. However, the company had no prior experience running an ICE detention facility, had never secured a federal contract exceeding $16 million, and lacked even a functioning website, raising questions about its suitability for such a critical role.
ICE has selected Amentum Services, Inc., which previously served as a subcontractor at Camp East Montana, as the new prime contractor. This decision was confirmed through a federal notice published on Wednesday and an agency spokesperson, though the spokesperson did not provide their name. The Washington Post first reported the contractor switch earlier in the week.
The ICE spokesperson did not specify what prompted the termination of Acquisition Logistics' contract, which was originally set to run until September 30, 2027, and has already cost the government nearly $600 million. ICE stated that it recently completed an inspection of conditions at Camp East Montana, but the findings have not been made public. Acquisition Logistics and its president and CEO, Ken Wagner, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
New Contractor's Role and Challenges
ICE expressed confidence that Amentum, known for its work with military and intelligence agencies, is best positioned to take over and enhance operations. "Amentum's size, maturity, and pedigree make them the right partner at the right time," the spokesperson said. "We will work closely with them in their implementation of higher standards of medical care, more thorough case processing and intake procedures, and delivery of performance requirements according to well-defined accountability measures."
The federal notice indicated that ICE is negotiating a no-bid contract with Amentum to manage Camp East Montana, including providing secure housing, medical care, and transportation. The contract is set to last 180 days, with uncertainty surrounding the camp's future beyond that period. Citing the "proprietary nature" of the camp's infrastructure, the notice asserted that no other vendor could ensure uninterrupted services, justifying the no-bid approach.
Political and Public Reactions
Representative Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat whose district includes the camp, expressed relief on Friday over the replacement of Acquisition Logistics. However, she reiterated her calls for the facility to be shut down entirely and for contractors to be investigated for "the fraud they've perpetrated on the American taxpayer." Escobar, who has toured the facility seven times, remains skeptical about improvements under the new contractor. "Whether the new contractor is an improvement remains to be seen, and I remain deeply concerned about the chronic substandard conditions that exist at Camp East Montana," she stated.
Based in Chantilly, Virginia, Amentum's parent company describes itself as a "global advanced engineering and technology solutions provider" serving U.S. government agencies and other clients. The company has prior experience providing services for ICE and other Department of Homeland Security divisions.
Broader Implications and Future Plans
The contractor switch occurs as ICE plans to expand its detention capacity nationwide, with warehouses designed to hold far more detainees than Camp East Montana—some sites are projected to accommodate up to 8,500 individuals. Representative Escobar has urged ICE to halt the opening of these warehouses, including one planned near El Paso, which she argues would "serve only as tools for the administration's inhumanity."
Camp East Montana is intended for short-term stays, with an average detention period of nine days according to ICE data. However, some detainees have been held for weeks or months due to legal challenges or logistical issues related to pending deportations, highlighting ongoing systemic problems within the immigration detention system.
