ICE extends lease on Texas detention centre where three migrants died

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has extended its lease on the Camp East Montana detention center in El Paso, Texas, for at least another year, costing taxpayers an additional $776 million. This decision comes despite calls for closure from Democratic members of Congress and advocacy organizations, who cite reports of human rights abuses, including mistreatment, substandard food, and medical neglect. A joint report by Human Rights Watch and the ACLU documented severe assaults by guards, overcrowding, and a lack of transparency. Three detainees have died at the facility since it opened on August 1, 2025. A June 2026 Government Accountability Office report indicated the facility did not meet key detention standards, potentially risking the safety of detainees and staff.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to extend its no-bid contract for the Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas, through September 30, 2027. This extension, costing taxpayers an additional $776 million on top of an initial $452 million contract, comes despite calls for closure from Democratic members of Congress and advocacy groups citing reported human rights abuses. Reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch and the ACLU allege mistreatment, including beatings, denial of medical care, and unsanitary conditions, with at least three detainees having died at the facility. ICE justified the extension by stating that relocating detainees would be "impracticable" due to a lack of bed space and that transitioning to a new contractor would incur duplicative costs and disrupt operations. The contract extension with Amentum Services Inc. will bring the total payment to over $1.2 billion.