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Immigration authorities announced Friday they are replacing the contractor operating their largest detention facility in response to mounting concerns about conditions at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has terminated its contract with Acquisition Logistics, LLC, which had been awarded a deal worth up to $1.3 billion to build and manage the facility. The company will be replaced by Amentum Services, Inc., which has previously served as a subcontractor at the site.
The contractor change comes amid intense scrutiny over living conditions at the detention center, where detainees have reported overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition, and emotional distress since its hasty opening last year. The facility, located at Fort Bliss, consists of six long tent encampments that house an average of nearly 3,000 migrants.
Critics have noted that Acquisition Logistics had no prior experience managing ICE detention facilities and had never previously won a federal contract exceeding $16 million. The company’s original contract had been set to run until September 2027 and has already cost the government nearly $600 million.
“Amentum’s size, maturity and pedigree make them the right partner at the right time,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement. “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 agency did not specify what prompted the termination but indicated that a recent inspection of conditions at Camp East Montana had been completed. Those findings have not been made public.
Reports of troubling conditions at the facility have been widespread. Detainees have described difficulties obtaining medication and healthcare, significant weight loss due to inadequate food, and fear of security guards alleged to use excessive force. According to an Associated Press investigation, at least 130 calls to 911 were made in the camp’s first five months of operation, including two deaths, several suicide attempts, fights, and medical emergencies.
The facility has also experienced a recent measles outbreak, adding to health concerns. These conditions have prompted several Democratic members of Congress to call for the facility’s closure.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat whose district includes the camp, expressed cautious optimism about the contractor change while reiterating her call to close the facility entirely.
“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,” said Escobar, who has toured the facility seven times. She also called for an investigation into Acquisition Logistics for “the fraud they’ve perpetrated on the American taxpayer.”
Amentum Services, based in Chantilly, Virginia, is known for its work with military and intelligence agencies. Its parent company describes itself as a “global advanced engineering and technology solutions provider” with previous experience serving ICE and other Department of Homeland Security divisions.
According to a federal notice published Wednesday, ICE is negotiating a no-bid contract with Amentum to run the facility for 180 days. The notice cited the “proprietary nature” of the camp’s infrastructure as justification for awarding the contract without competition, stating that no other vendor could provide uninterrupted services.
Camp East Montana is designed for short-term detention, with an average stay of nine days according to ICE data. However, some detainees have reportedly been held for weeks or months while challenging their detention or navigating logistical issues related to pending deportations.
This contractor change comes as ICE plans to expand its detention capabilities with warehouses across the country, some designed to hold up to 8,500 detainees—far more than Camp East Montana’s current capacity. Rep. Escobar has opposed these plans, including one near El Paso, calling them “tools for the administration’s inhumanity.”
Neither Acquisition Logistics nor its president and CEO Ken Wagner immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the contract termination.
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10 Comments
This is an interesting development. Replacing the contractor at the largest ICE detention facility is a significant move, especially given the reported issues with living conditions there. Transparency and accountability should be top priorities when it comes to the treatment of detainees.
Agreed. The scrutiny over conditions at this facility seems warranted, and I hope the new contractor will be better able to address the concerns that have been raised.
The decision to terminate the contract with Acquisition Logistics and bring in a new operator raises some questions. What specific issues led to this change, and how will the new contractor, Amentum Services, approach things differently? Hopefully, this will lead to meaningful improvements for the detainees.
You raise a good point. The details behind the contractor change and Amentum’s plans will be important to understand. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities here.
The reported issues at the ICE detention facility, including overcrowding, medical neglect, and emotional distress, are deeply concerning. While the contractor change is a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to meaningful and lasting improvements. Ensuring the humane treatment of all detainees should be a top priority.
I agree. The well-being of the detainees must be the primary focus here. Transparency and accountability will be key to ensuring that the new contractor is able to address the problems and provide the necessary care and support.
This is a complex issue with a lot of competing interests and perspectives. While the reported problems at the detention facility are concerning, I’m curious to learn more about the government’s decision-making process and the specific criteria they used to select the new contractor. Balanced and impartial reporting is crucial.
I agree that this is a nuanced issue. It will be important for the public to have access to clear information about the rationale for the contractor change and the steps being taken to address the issues at the facility.
Replacing the contractor at the largest ICE detention center is a significant move, and it suggests that the government has recognized the need for improvement. However, the real test will be whether the new operator, Amentum Services, is able to address the reported problems and provide adequate care and living conditions for the detainees.
That’s a good point. The success of this change will depend on the actions and performance of the new contractor. Continued oversight and transparency will be crucial to ensure that the detainees’ rights and well-being are protected.