GAO Report Reveals Deadly Mismanagement at Texas ICE Megaprison
A Government Accountability Office report released June 9, 2026, found severe mismanagement and waste at Camp East Montana, the largest U.S. immigration detention center at Fort Bliss, Texas. The $1.3 billion facility, built under the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, wasted millions on empty services, failed health and safety standards, and saw at least four detainee deaths—including one homicide. The GAO warns similar failures could recur in a planned $38 billion expansion of detention facilities.
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Audit: ICE wasted millions, imperiled detainees at Camp East Montana
A federal audit by the Government Accountability Office revealed severe mismanagement at ICE's largest immigration detention facility, Camp East Montana in Texas. The report attributed widespread issues to a $1.3 billion expedited contract awarded to an inexperienced company. Problems included $11.5 million wasted on meals and services before detainees arrived, a guard losing a loaded firearm that was never recovered, and three detainee deaths—one ruled a homicide where evidence was missing or destroyed. The contractor failed to provide required use-of-force reports. Representative Veronica Escobar called for the camp's closure and a criminal investigation. However, a Homeland Security spokesperson stated the facility is upgrading under a new contractor rather than closing.
TheWeek feedAudit: ICE wasted millions, imperiled detainees at Camp East Montana
A federal audit by the Government Accountability Office revealed severe mismanagement at ICE's largest immigration detention facility, Camp East Montana in Texas. The report attributed widespread issues to a $1.3 billion expedited contract awarded to a company with no experience running detention centers. Problems included up to $11.5 million wasted on meals and services before detainees arrived, a guard losing a loaded firearm that was never recovered, and three detainee deaths. One death, ruled a homicide, involved missing or destroyed evidence and failure to file required use-of-force reports. Representative Veronica Escobar called for the camp's closure and a criminal investigation. However, a Homeland Security spokesperson stated the facility is upgrading under a new contractor rather than closing.
TheWeek feedAudit: ICE wasted millions, mismanagement led to deaths at Camp East Montana
A federal audit by the Government Accountability Office revealed severe mismanagement at ICE's largest immigration detention facility, Camp East Montana in Texas. The report attributed pervasive issues to a $1.3 billion expedited contract awarded to an inexperienced company. Findings included up to $11.5 million wasted on services before detainees arrived, a guard losing a loaded firearm that was never recovered, and three detainee deaths—one ruled a homicide where evidence was missing or destroyed. The contractor failed to provide required use-of-force reports. Representative Veronica Escobar called for the camp's closure and a criminal investigation, while a Homeland Security spokesperson stated the facility is upgrading under a new contractor rather than closing.
TheWeek feedGAO Report Reveals Deadly Mismanagement and Waste at Texas ICE Detention Camp
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on June 9, 2026, details severe mismanagement at Camp East Montana, a massive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Texas. The report found that the facility, rushed to open in August before construction was complete, wasted $11.5 million on guards, medical services, transportation, and meals weeks before it held any detainees. The camp has seen three detainee deaths in six months, including a 55-year-old Cuban migrant who died in January after being held down by guards, with evidence in that case missing or destroyed. Other incidents include a detainee escaping in October, a security guard losing a loaded firearm that was never recovered, and a tuberculosis outbreak caused by the contractor failing to administer skin tests. The contractor, Acquisition Logistics, had no prior experience operating detention facilities. The report was requested by Democratic lawmakers and highlights unsafe conditions and taxpayer waste.
Fortune | FORTUNEGAO Warns Detention Camp Failures Could Become Blueprint for Billions in New Spending
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released June 9, 2026, found that Camp East Montana, a hastily constructed immigrant detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, wasted millions in federal funding, failed to meet basic detention standards, and experienced multiple tuberculosis cases and at least four detainee deaths, including one ruled a homicide. The facility was built under a $1.3 billion contract as part of the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign funded by the 2025 'big beautiful' law. The GAO warns that the same contracting and oversight failures could be repeated on a much larger scale as the Department of Homeland Security plans to spend $38 billion converting warehouses into detention facilities using the same contracting vehicle. The report made four recommendations, including tiered food pricing and ensuring facilities meet standards before housing immigrants. Congressional Democrats requested the investigation and called the findings 'damning.'
Government Executive - All ContentGAO Warns Detention Camp Failures Could Become Blueprint for Billions in New Spending
A Government Accountability Office report released June 9, 2026, reveals severe mismanagement at Camp East Montana, a hastily built immigrant detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas. The facility, constructed under a $170 billion immigration enforcement law enacted in July 2025, wasted millions in federal funding, failed to meet basic detention standards, and saw multiple tuberculosis cases and at least four detainee deaths, including one ruled a homicide. The GAO found that a $1.3 billion contract paid for services when no detainees were present, wasting up to $11.5 million. The watchdog warns that the same failures could repeat in a planned $38 billion program to convert warehouses into detention facilities using the same contracting vehicle. The report comes as the House prepares to pass a $70 billion immigration enforcement package through fiscal 2029. Congressional Democrats requested the investigation and criticized the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.
Government Executive - All ContentFederal Watchdog Warns Trump’s Biggest Megaprison Is Rife With Abuse
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on June 9, 2026, found that the U.S. government spent millions of dollars more than necessary on Camp East Montana, the country's largest immigration detention center located at Fort Bliss, Texas. The expedited contract award and construction led to wasteful spending, including $11.5 million on services for an empty facility and $423,000 on unneeded meals. The contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, which had no detention experience, failed to meet contractual requirements for health care, sanitation, and safety. Specific failures included lack of tuberculosis tests, inadequate HIV and diabetes treatment, unsanitary conditions, and two detainee deaths—one ruled homicide by asphyxia and one suicide due to improper monitoring. A loaded firearm was also lost and not recovered. The report serves as a warning against the administration's plans to build more megaprisons.
The New RepublicFederal Watchdog Warns Trump’s Biggest Megaprison Is Rife With Abuse
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Tuesday found that the U.S. government spent millions of dollars more than necessary on Camp East Montana, the country's largest immigration detention center located at Fort Bliss, Texas. The expedited contract award and construction led to wasteful spending, including $11.5 million on services for an empty facility and $423,000 on unneeded meals. Despite the extra funds, the contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, which had no detention experience, failed to meet contractual requirements for health care, sanitation, and safety. Specific failures included lack of tuberculosis tests, inadequate HIV and diabetes treatment, unsanitary conditions, and two detainee deaths—one ruled a homicide by asphyxia and one suicide due to improper monitoring. Additionally, a security guard lost a loaded firearm in the facility, which remains unrecovered. The report serves as a warning against the administration's plans to build more megaprisons for immigrants.
The New RepublicFederal Watchdog Warns Trump’s Biggest Megaprison Is Rife With Abuse
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released Tuesday found that the U.S. government spent millions more than necessary on Camp East Montana, the country's largest immigration detention center at Fort Bliss, Texas, while failing to meet contractual requirements for health care, sanitation, and safety. The Army paid $11.5 million for services at the empty facility and continued paying for full capacity of 5,000 despite only housing 1,600 detainees. The contractor, Acquisition Logistics LLC, had no detention experience and failed to provide required cleaning, tuberculosis tests, and treatment for HIV and diabetes. Two detainee deaths occurred: one ruled homicide by asphyxia with missing evidence, and one suicide due to inadequate monitoring. A security guard also lost a loaded firearm that remained unrecovered. The report warns of ongoing plans to build more megaprisons despite legal challenges and local opposition.
The New Republic