ICE to Open Tent Detention Facility at Fort Bliss, Texas on Aug 17

(FORT BLISS, TEXAS) ICE will open a large tent detention site at Fort Bliss on August 17, 2025, to hold single adults in deportation proceedings. Officials say the site, called Camp East Montana, starts with 1,000 beds and can expand to 5,000.

The U.S. Army awarded a $1.24 billion contract to Acquisition Logistics LLC to build and operate the facility through September 30, 2027. The company has no prior record running detention centers, prompting questions about care and oversight.

What will open and why it matters

• The facility begins with 1,000 beds, adding about 250 beds per week toward 3,000, with a maximum of 5,000.
• ICE says it needs space to process rising arrests and to move people faster through the system.
• Only single adults will be held—no families or children.
• The Army manages the contract, while ICE runs daily operations. Soldiers won’t guard detainees. Up to 1,700 National Guard members may assist with transport, processing, and logistics.

Leticia Zamarripa, ICE’s El Paso spokesperson, said the agency needs extra capacity due to stepped-up enforcement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the use of Fort Bliss and other bases for detention. Supporters describe the site as a pressure valve for crowded jails across the country.

How Camp East Montana will operate

Population and eligibility
– Population: single adults in removal proceedings or with final deportation orders.
– Exclusions: families and children will not be detained at Fort Bliss.

Services and accommodations
– Services: access to lawyers, a law library, visitation, recreation, medical care, and balanced meals.
– Accommodations: disability access, dietary accommodations, and space for religious practice.
– Deportations: ICE Air flights will operate directly from Fort Bliss to speed returns.

Operational roles
– The Army will supervise the construction contract.
– ICE will set standards and run day-to-day detention operations.
– Activated National Guard members may assist with transport, processing, and logistics but will not act as immigration officers.

Current detention context and national goals

• ICE averaged about 57,800 adults in detention in July 2025—about 1,000 more than June and 17,000 more than when President Trump took office.
• Congress recently approved $45 billion to double national detention capacity to 100,000 beds.
• The administration is pursuing a broader enforcement goal: 3,000 arrests per day and over 1 million deportations a year.

Contractor concerns and oversight

Concerns raised
– Advocates question the choice of Acquisition Logistics LLC because of its lack of detention experience.
– Critics highlight risks of tent housing in extreme heat and potential for substandard care.
– Groups such as the National Immigration Law Center and Human Rights Watch point to past reports of abuse and poor conditions in similar setups.

Official assurances and demands
– Officials say the Army will supervise the contract while ICE sets standards and monitors compliance.
– The agency states detainees must receive medical screening, regular meals, legal access, and recreation.
– Critics demand public, independent inspections and frequent reporting to ensure transparency and rights protections.

The Fort Bliss plan in the wider strategy

• The administration aims to use military bases to rapidly scale detention capacity.
• Other temporary sites expected: Camp Atterbury (Indiana) and Joint Base McGuire‑Dix‑Lakehurst (New Jersey), plus a smaller expansion at Guantánamo Bay.
• The Pentagon’s expanded support marks a shift in domestic enforcement logistics and capacity.

For migrants, lawyers, and families

If someone is detained
– Likely transfer to Camp East Montana if a single adult within ICE’s El Paso area of responsibility.
– Families and children will not be sent to this site.

Legal help and access
– Detainees should ask for the facility’s pro bono list and law library hours.
– Attorneys can arrange visitation through the ICE El Paso Field Office once the site opens.

Health and safety
– Detainees can request medical care, disability accommodations, and religious or dietary support.
– Families should ask detainees to file written requests and keep copies for records.

Potential impacts
– Supporters say expansion will reduce transfers and speed case processing.
– Critics fear fast-track deportations could limit time to find counsel or gather evidence.
– Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests rapid bed growth can strain oversight, especially with a new contractor.

What to expect in the first 90 days

• Population ramp-up: the site will add beds weekly and could reach 3,000 by late fall if staffing keeps pace.
• Transport patterns: ICE may move detainees from crowded centers in other states to Fort Bliss and fly deportation routes from nearby airfields.
• Guard and support roles: National Guard members would support transport and logistics but not perform immigration enforcement.

Rights and key processes to remember

• Right to counsel: You have the right to speak to a lawyer. The government does not provide a free lawyer, but the facility must allow attorney access and phone calls to pro bono groups.
• Fear of return: Tell ICE and the immigration judge if you fear harm in your home country. You can request a credible fear interview.
• Notices and hearings:
  1. If issued a Notice to Appear (NTA), your case goes before an immigration judge.
  2. If you get an expedited order, ask for access to an asylum officer to explain your fear.
• Paperwork: Keep copies of your A-number, NTA, bond paperwork, and any charging documents.
• Family inquiries: Use the ICE detainee locator for updates; check ICE’s detention and enforcement pages for general process details.

Key numbers and timeline

Stakeholders and contacts

• ICE El Paso Field Office: visitation, attorney coordination, detainee information
• U.S. Army Public Affairs, Fort Bliss: construction, contract management
• Acquisition Logistics LLC: site operations
• Advocacy groups: National Immigration Law Center, Human Rights Watch

For official standards and detention guidance, consult the ICE detention website, including the public “Detention Facility” page that explains services, medical care, and legal access.

Important: Monitor updates from ICE El Paso and advocacy groups for inspection reports, facility handbooks, and any changes to detainee services or visitation rules.

Community impact around Fort Bliss

• Local officials expect added airport traffic and bus movements as ICE Air operations scale up.
• Economic effects: Some residents welcome jobs in construction, security, and food service.
• Community concerns: heat risks in tents, emergency medical capacity, and transparency on complaints.
• Local governments may press for public briefings, heat‑mitigation plans, and third‑party monitoring.

Broader legal and political outlook

• Congress and courts will likely examine contractor performance, use-of-force policies, grievance systems, and medical staffing.
• Detention numbers and deportation flights will be tracked as indicators of whether national targets are being met.
• Advocates will watch compliance with disability and religious accommodation rules and push for public release of inspection reports.

Practical next steps

For families
– Gather A-numbers, check the ICE detainee locator daily once transfers begin, and arrange attorney consultations quickly.

For attorneys
– Prepare for remote and on-site visits; request facility handbooks and law library schedules as soon as available.

For community groups
– Set up hotlines for detainee families and track reported conditions—especially heat, medical delays, and access to counsel.

As Camp East Montana opens at Fort Bliss, the country will watch whether a massive tent facility can safely hold thousands of adults while meeting legal standards in the heat of West Texas. Supporters promise order and speed; critics warn of harm if oversight falters. The outcome will shape detention policy far beyond Fort Bliss.