Arabic version: دعوى قضائية تستهدف إدارة الهجرة والجمارك بسبب الظروف في منشأة الهجرة في تكساس
A lawsuit has been filed against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) concerning the conditions at Camp East Montana, the largest immigration detention facility in the United States. This class action complaint was lodged on Saturday, highlighting what plaintiffs describe as a “dire” environment that severely violates the rights of detainees. According to The Guardian, the facility is located on El Paso’s Fort Bliss military base and has been operational since August 2025.
The lawsuit details numerous allegations of abuse and neglect, including inadequate medical care, inappropriate use of force, and unsanitary living conditions. Detainees report receiving spoiled food and experiencing outbreaks of disease. The legal complaint claims that in less than a year of operation, there have been three reported deaths at the facility, which has become notorious for its treatment of immigrants.
Filed in federal court in El Paso, the suit names four detainees as plaintiffs, representing themselves and others currently or potentially held at Camp East Montana. Advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Human Rights Watch, are backing the lawsuit, which seeks accountability from ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and other officials.
Gerald Akari Angye, one of the plaintiffs, shared his traumatic experiences in detention, stating he faced violence from guards when attempting to communicate with an attorney. The lawsuit alleges that detainees suffer severe mental health declines, often contemplating suicide under the harsh conditions, while only 20% of those detained are identified as having a criminal background.
The complaint further criticizes ICE’s efforts to expand its detention network while undermining oversight agencies meant to monitor facility conditions. The DHS has previously denied claims of poor conditions at Camp East Montana, labeling them as “unequivocally false.” This lawsuit aims to bring justice to those affected by alleged abuses at the facility.
