ICE Center in Texas Lost Track of Firearm and Did Not Conduct Tuberculosis Tests, According to Report
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The largest ICE detention center in the country lost track of a loaded firearm, failed to provide treatment to detainees with chronic health issues, and did not conduct tuberculosis tests on immigrants, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office released on Tuesday. The investigation by the congressional oversight body revealed 'serious performance and oversight issues' at the East Montana Camp, located at Fort Bliss, just outside El Paso, Texas. The report noted that in one case, evidence related to a detainee's death was lost or destroyed. Initially classified as an 'apparent suicide,' the local coroner later ruled it a homicide, and the FBI and inspector general are currently investigating the case. The facility, composed of tents, has faced a troubled history since its opening on the Army base less than a year ago—in August—beginning with a fatal construction accident and the deaths of three detainees within six weeks, including the homicide. There have also been outbreaks of tuberculosis and measles. The GAO pointed out that after ICE took over the management of the East Montana Camp contract—previously managed by the Army—in October, contractual requirements continued to be unmet. ICE itself issued eight discrepancy reports and one oversight report regarding the East Montana Camp, identifying 'serious problems' at the facility, according to the GAO. The discrepancy reports formally document deficiencies in the performance of the facility operators, who are then required to propose and implement corrective actions. One discrepancy report indicated that in January 2026, a contracted security guard 'lost his loaded firearm on the premises,' and according to an ICE official, 'despite several searches of the facility, by March 2026 the weapon had not been recovered,' the GAO noted. The investigation indicated that, according to ICE officials, by March the agency was still waiting for the contractor to respond to some of the reports. The document does not mention any specific contractor. Another discrepancy report issued by ICE revealed that a contractor had not conducted mandatory tuberculosis tests and instead relied on symptom questionnaires; this resulted in a foreign individual with tuberculosis being housed alongside the general population, according to the GAO report. In December, ICE's Health Service Corps determined that the contractor did not conduct comprehensive health assessments, and as a result, 'detainees with chronic illnesses did not receive treatment or care in accordance with National Detention Standards,' the GAO stated. 'For example, none of the detainees with diabetes or HIV had an established treatment plan,' the investigation indicated. A February discrepancy report from ICE related to the death of a detainee—classified as a homicide by the local coroner—revealed that the contractor did not provide ICE with reports on the use of force and the death as required, the GAO reported. 'Additionally, evidence related to the incident was missing or had been destroyed,' the investigation noted. In mid-March, ICE terminated the contract with Acquisition Logistics LLC, the company managing the facilities. The company lacked prior experience in managing immigrant detention centers, and its 77-year-old CEO appeared to run the business from his private home. Acquisition Logistics did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. 'Both the Army and DHS made decisions that contributed to the serious problems at Camp East Montana,' the report states. 'Therefore, we continue to believe that both agencies should evaluate the contracting process and identify lessons learned to guide future contracts in support of ICE's detention operations.' A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that ICE hired a new provider 'after the termination of the previous contract inherited from the Department of War.' 'ICE is constantly looking for ways to improve its detention centers to ensure that we provide the best care to undocumented individuals in our custody,' the spokesperson said. 'This new contractor will allow Camp East Montana to continue meeting the strictest detention standards while providing greater medical care on-site,' the statement noted. 'ICE will exercise even greater oversight over the contractors at this center. Far from closing, Camp East Montana is being modernized.' At the end of last month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other legal organizations filed a lawsuit against ICE due to allegations of inhumane conditions at the center, which included 'serious medical neglect, disease outbreaks, dangerous and unsanitary conditions, and the use of force by agents, among other issues.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. 'These findings confirm part of what I have been denouncing since the center opened ten months ago; however, incredibly, they do not even come close to reflecting everything I have discovered and shared with the public during my oversight visits,' stated Representative Veronica Escobar (Democrat, Texas). 'Camp East Montana needs to be closed, the contracting company investigated, and the destruction of evidence referred to authorities; moreover, Republicans should work with us to redirect these funds to meet the needs of working Americans.' This story was translated from Spanish with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An editor from Telemundo Digital reviewed the translation. This story was originally written in English by Daniella Silva from our sister network NBC News.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
