
July 16th, 2026
A new report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union says detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas reported frequent beatings and other abuses.
The 84-page report, released Wednesday, covers conditions at Camp East Montana on the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss in El Paso.
Of 71 detainees interviewed over five months, 64 said they were assaulted by staff or saw others physically abused.
Detainees also reported being denied medical care, living in filthy conditions, and receiving inedible food.
Some said they were prevented from contacting lawyers or family.
The report described bathrooms covered in feces, flooded housing, and no access to soap.
People said guards beat them for hunger strikes, medical requests, or complaints.
The Department of Homeland Security called the reports “categorically false” and said no detainees are abused.
At least three detainees have died at the camp since it opened in August.
One death was ruled a homicide, and a federal report said evidence was “missing or destroyed.”
ICE replaced the camp’s contractor in March after an internal review found 49 violations.
The report said staff pressured detainees to abandon immigration claims or accept removal to third countries.
It concluded that some circumstances could amount to enforced disappearances, a potential violation of international law.
Human Rights Watch and the ACLU called on the Trump administration to close the camp and allow independent investigations.
July 16th, 2026


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