The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Tuesday detailing serious oversight failures at Camp East Montana, the largest ICE detention facility in the country, located at Fort Bliss outside El Paso, Texas. The report highlights a lost loaded firearm, inadequate healthcare for detainees, and failures to test for tuberculosis, among other issues.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
The GAO investigation found that a contracted security guard lost a loaded firearm at the facility in January 2026, and as of March 2026, the weapon had not been recovered. Additionally, the facility failed to provide proper treatment for detainees with chronic health conditions, such as HIV or diabetes, and did not conduct tuberculosis testing. The report also noted that evidence related to the death of a detainee, initially ruled a suicide, was later determined to be a homicide by the local coroner and is now under FBI investigation.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Facility History and Construction Issues
Camp East Montana opened in August 2025 and has faced multiple incidents, including three detainee deaths in less than six weeks. The facility has also experienced outbreaks of tuberculosis and measles. The GAO attributed many of the issues to a rushed construction and contracting process, noting that the Army initially awarded a $1.2 billion contract to a contractor with no experience in detention services. The GAO stated that this approach contributed to waste of government resources and threats to the health and safety of detainees and staff.
ICE Oversight and Discrepancy Reports
ICE issued eight discrepancy reports and one oversight report for Camp East Montana, identifying serious problems at the facility. Discrepancy reports document performance issues by facility operators, requiring corrective actions. The GAO noted that even after ICE took over contract administration from the Army in October 2025, the facility continued to fail to meet contractual requirements.
Detainee Deaths and Investigations
The report detailed two detainee deaths in January 2026. One death, initially ruled a suicide, was later determined to be a homicide and is now under criminal investigation. Another detainee died by suicide after being left unattended for intervals longer than 15 minutes. The GAO also noted that the facility had a troubled history, including a fatal construction accident and multiple health-related incidents.
Political and Policy Implications
The GAO report raises questions about the effectiveness of ICE's oversight and the adequacy of the facility's operations. The findings suggest that the rushed construction and contracting process may have contributed to the ongoing issues. The report does not explicitly attribute the problems to any specific administration but notes that the facility was established during the Trump administration.
The GAO's findings highlight the need for improved oversight and accountability in detention facilities, particularly those operated under emergency or expedited contracting processes.