According to a November 7 letter sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar demands federal officials address what she describes as deteriorating conditions at the massive immigration detention facility on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

The follow-up letter is Escobar’s second formal complaint to federal authorities since the facility opened in August. She states that conditions at the $1.24 billion tent complex have not improved despite her initial September 26 correspondence.

Camp East Montana, which has a capacity of up to 5,000 detainees and operates as the country’s largest immigration detention center, continues to struggle with basic sanitation and health standards, according to detainee accounts collected by Escobar’s office.​

The congresswoman’s letter details complaints about foul-tasting drinking water, poor food quality so severe that some detainees are skipping meals due to lack of dietary accommodations, and sanitation issues, including dormitory pods housing up to 72 people that are cleaned only once every eight days. Detainees have reported washing their clothes in facility showers due to inconsistent laundry services.

The letter talks about inadequate medical care at the facility, including inconsistent access to necessary medications. Escobar’s office has learned of a detainee living with HIV who has not been receiving his medication. The congresswoman noted that only the most ill detainees are referred to the medical unit, and there are inconsistencies in how soon after arriving detainees undergo initial medical screenings.​​

The facility also experiences frequent flooding and sewage backups, which Escobar characterized as “unacceptable” hazards that can lead to illness and disease. The congresswoman also expressed concern that neither ICE nor facility staff maintains an accurate population count due to the rapid turnover rate.

Camp East Montana was constructed on the edge of Fort Bliss, an Army base located in the Chihuahuan Desert, where summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees. The facility consists of large white tents—each as long as two football fields—divided into smaller pods where detainees eat, sleep, shower, and use the bathroom.​

The congresswoman has criticized ICE for stonewalling congressional oversight, noting that her office has 21 unanswered case inquiries. She also says that a planned September visit by her staff was abruptly cancelled less than 24 hours in advance.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations about conditions at the facility. In a September statement, DHS said claims of “inhumane” conditions are “categorically false” and maintained that “all detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with lawyers and their family members.”

However, Escobar’s November letter demanded that ICE and DHS provide detailed responses to her concerns and enumerate steps being taken to guarantee the safety and wellbeing of detainees, their families, and staff by November 24, 2025. The letter included questions about staffing levels, contractor services, medical protocols, water quality testing, and population data.​​

The facility opened while still an active construction site, with its first detainees arriving in early August when machinery and dust filled the air, and basic infrastructure remained incomplete. Some toilets and sinks were not functioning during the initial weeks, and the facility had only one outdoor recreation area shared among 1,200 detainees.