Key facts
- ICE is extending its contract for the East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas, without competitive bidding.
- The extension is planned through September 30, 2027, with a potential cost of $776 million.
- Amentum Services Inc. took over operations in March under an initial $452 million contract.
- Critics cite reports of detainee mistreatment, including beatings and denial of medical care, and three detainee deaths.
- ICE justified the extension by citing the difficulty of relocating detainees and the risk of operational disruption.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intends to extend its contract for the East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas, for another year, despite ongoing calls for its closure due to alleged human rights abuses. The no-bid contract extension for Amentum Services Inc. is projected to cost taxpayers an additional $776 million, on top of the $452 million initial contract awarded in March.
For months, Democratic lawmakers and advocacy organizations have urged the closure of Camp East Montana, citing reports of routine mistreatment of detainees since its opening in August 2025. A recent report by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union detailed allegations of staff beatings, denial of medical care, unsanitary living conditions, and inedible meals. Federal agencies have also documented unsafe conditions and financial waste associated with the facility, where at least three detainees have died.
ICE justified the contract extension by stating that relocating detainees to other facilities would be impractical due to a lack of bed space. The agency also argued that transitioning to a new contractor would lead to duplicative costs and threaten operational continuity, potentially exposing the government to significant risks. The initial contract, awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC, was noted by ICE as not accurately reflecting operational needs or facility usage, and the company reportedly lacked prior detention facility experience.