ICE extends lease on Texas detention centre where three migrants died

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the continuation of operations at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, securing the facility for a minimum of one additional year. The lease extension carries an estimated cost of $776 million to taxpayers, despite sustained pressure from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights organizations demanding the centre's closure.

Since the facility opened in August 2025, three detainees have died within its walls. A joint investigation by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union documented severe conditions, including assaults by guards against detainees, medical neglect, overcrowding, and insufficient transparency in operations. Detainees reported being beaten for asserting their rights or requesting food and medical care, with one account stating that guards would retaliate against all detainees if any individual spoke up.

Democratic congresswoman Veronica Escobar of Texas characterized the facility as providing substandard food and inadequate medical care, calling for its immediate closure. A June 2026 report from the US Government Accountability Office concluded that the camp failed to meet key detention standards, thereby risking the safety and security of both detained non-citizens and staff. At the end of February 2026, approximately 1,600 non-citizens were held at the facility.

The Trump administration has defended its border enforcement strategy, citing low border crossing levels and asserting that ICE officers operate in a dangerous environment. In response to inquiries, ICE stated that no detainees are being beaten or abused and that those in custody have access to food, medical care, legal counsel, and family communication. The Human Rights Watch and ACLU report is expected to intensify national debate over immigration enforcement practices.