Lead: Federal immigration authorities have confirmed a measles outbreak at Camp East Montana, the largest ICE detention facility, located on Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. At least 14 detainees tested positive for the highly contagious disease, and officials say infected individuals have been separated from the wider detained population to limit transmission. The facility, which opened last year and holds an average of 2,954 people, is closed to visitors and attorneys while health teams coordinate with public-health partners. Representative Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) has urged the camp’s closure and called for an investigation into the facility’s contractor.
Key Takeaways
- At least 14 confirmed measles cases were reported at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas; cases were announced by ICE to media and local officials.
- ICE says those who tested positive have been cohorted and separated from other detainees; 112 additional individuals have been isolated linked to the outbreak.
- Camp East Montana averages 2,954 detainees inside its soft-sided tent structures, the largest ICE population in fiscal year 2026 per TRAC at Syracuse University.
- Since the facility opened last year, three detainees have died in custody: Victor Manuel Diaz (36) on Jan. 14 (presumed suicide), Francisco Gaspar-Andres (48) of health complications, and Geraldo Lunas Campos (55) whose death on Jan. 3 was ruled a homicide.
- Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia-based contractor awarded a $1.2 billion contract last summer to build and operate the camp, had not previously run ICE facilities and previously held much smaller contracts reportedly around $16 million.
- Officials report ICE provides medical, dental, mental health and 24-hour emergency care to detainees; representatives say containment and coordination with public-health authorities are underway.
Background
Camp East Montana is a soft-sided, tent-style detention complex on Fort Bliss in El Paso that opened in 2025 to expand ICE capacity. The site reflects an increasing agency preference for temporary, large-capacity structures over traditional brick-and-mortar facilities, a shift driven by surges in arrivals and demand for rapid bed space. Its operator, Acquisition Logistics LLC, received a $1.2 billion award last summer to build and run the camp; public records indicate the company previously held far smaller federal contracts and had limited experience operating detention centers.
Public scrutiny of the camp intensified after three detainee deaths since its opening, raising questions about medical screening, on-site care and oversight. Local elected officials and immigrant-rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about conditions inside tent facilities, including access to timely medical care, heat and weather protections, and legal visitation. Those concerns frame the response to the current measles outbreak and have prompted calls for an external investigation into both the facility’s operations and its contractor.
Main Event
ICE confirmed to news outlets that 14 detainees tested positive for measles at Camp East Montana; agency spokespeople said infected individuals were cohorted and separated to prevent further spread. Representative Veronica Escobar, whose congressional district includes Fort Bliss, said the facility is closed to visitors and attorneys while the outbreak is addressed, and she reported 112 additional people have been isolated in connection to the cases. Local public-health authorities are coordinating with ICE, according to agency statements, to provide medical oversight and containment measures.
On-site operations involve isolating confirmed cases and quarantining close contacts; ICE said detainees receive access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. The agency’s public statement emphasized that detainee, staff and community health are a top priority as responders work to contain transmission. Meanwhile, facility staff have limited outside access, affecting attorneys’ ability to meet clients and visitors’ access until public-health officials allow reopening.
The outbreak arrives amid heightened tensions over conditions at the camp following the three recent in-custody deaths. Local leaders and advocacy groups have cited those deaths as evidence of systemic failures and pressured federal authorities to increase oversight or close the facility. ICE maintains that its medical services are comprehensive, but independent observers and elected officials have called for transparent external reviews of care standards and emergency response protocols.
Acquisition Logistics LLC, the contractor operating Camp East Montana, has attracted attention because it had not previously run an ICE detention site before winning the $1.2 billion contract. Public reports note the company is small compared with traditional federal contractors and that its web presence currently displays minimal information; company leadership did not respond to media requests at the phone number publicly listed this week.
Analysis & Implications
Measles is among the most contagious vaccine-preventable diseases, so an outbreak in a crowded detention setting presents elevated transmission risk, especially where population movement and close quarters are routine. Cohorting infected individuals and isolating contacts are standard containment measures, but their effectiveness depends on timely case detection, adequate medical staffing, and appropriate vaccination status among the detained and staff populations. If vaccination coverage among detainees or staff is incomplete, public-health teams may need to deploy targeted immunization campaigns to halt spread.
The event raises operational and contractual questions about rapid expansion of tent-style detention capacity. A contractor with limited facility experience running a site housing nearly 3,000 people creates added oversight responsibilities for ICE and potentially for third-party monitors. Lawmakers’ calls for investigation reflect broader concerns about whether emergency procurement and novel contract structures preserve adequate standards for medical care, staffing, and emergency response.
Broader public-health implications include potential exposure of staff and the surrounding community if containment lapses; El Paso health authorities are therefore central partners in outbreak response. Politically, outbreaks in high-visibility detention sites can intensify partisan debate over immigration enforcement priorities, facility design choices, and the use of private contractors, while shaping legislative and oversight agendas. Operationally, the incident may prompt ICE to review vaccination protocols, screening at intake, and disclosure processes for legal counsel and families.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Camp East Montana (reported) |
|---|---|
| Average detainee population | 2,954 |
| Confirmed measles cases | 14 |
| Individuals isolated (contacts) | 112 |
| Detainee deaths since opening | 3 |
| Contract value awarded | $1.2 billion |
The table compiles figures reported by ICE, Representative Escobar, and the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC). The camp’s average population of 2,954 is the largest single-site ICE detainee population recorded for fiscal year 2026, per TRAC data. Comparing the number of confirmed cases (14) to the total population underscores the potential for rapid spread if containment measures fail; public-health response intensity typically scales with both case counts and the size of the exposed population.
Reactions & Quotes
Local and federal responses have been swift and critical. Representative Escobar framed the outbreak as further evidence of systemic problems at the camp and demanded action.
“There has been nothing but crisis after crisis inside the walls of this tent city.”
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D–Texas)
ICE provided a statement emphasizing containment and coordination with public-health partners, while outlining the agency’s medical services for detainees.
“Infected individuals have been cohorted and separated from the rest of the detained population to prevent further spread,”
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (agency statement)
Advocacy groups and some public-health experts say transparency and independent review are necessary to assess the adequacy of medical care and outbreak response in such settings. Those calls may influence investigative and oversight priorities in the weeks ahead.
Unconfirmed
- Precise source or index case for the outbreak has not been publicly identified; investigations to trace introduction are ongoing and unconfirmed.
- The extent to which detainee vaccination histories or staff immunization status contributed to transmission has not been confirmed in public reports.
- Allegations that recent facility conditions directly caused the three in-custody deaths are matters of investigation and have not been legally or administratively resolved.
Bottom Line
The measles outbreak at Camp East Montana spotlights vulnerabilities when infectious disease intersects with high-density detention operations run by relatively new contractors. Containment measures reported by ICE—cohorting cases and isolating contacts—are consistent with public-health practice, but their effectiveness will hinge on testing speed, medical staffing, and vaccination actions on site and among staff.
Expect heightened oversight from local elected officials, potential inquiries into the contractor’s preparedness and performance, and increased scrutiny of ICE medical protocols. For public-health authorities and policymakers, the incident underscores the need for clear vaccination policies, timely disclosure to counsel and families, and independent reviews of care in large, temporary detention settings.
Sources
- NBC News (news report)
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (official agency statement)
- Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), Syracuse University (research/analysis)