The El Paso City Council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to draft a resolution advocating the shutdown of Camp East Montana, the largest immigration detention facility in the United States, situated on Fort Bliss military base grounds.
The council's decision, recorded as "Directed/Pass" under municipal file 26-1195, saw a 7-0 vote in favor. The city manager and city attorney now have 30 days to finalize the resolution, which will then return to the council for further voting.
Although the measure does not immediately close the facility, as it is federally operated, the council members aim to pressure Congress to reevaluate budget allocations and terminate contracts that sustain its operations.
Advocates for Change
The initiative was championed by council members Josh Acevedo and Lily Limón, who cited alleged violations of basic rights, medical negligence, excessive use of force, and a lack of transparency regarding public funds. "They have over $1 billion for this facility. The decisions they make—not feeding people, not clothing them properly, not providing basic hygiene items—are choices made with a budget exceeding $1 billion. When we remain silent, we are complicit," Acevedo stated.
The case of Geraldo Lunas Campos is part of a broader issue concerning conditions in immigration detention centers. Stay updated on U.S. immigration news to remain informed.
Public Outcry and Legal Actions
During public comments, Charlotte Weiss, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, shared a detainee's testimony: "The food causes vomiting because it often arrives spoiled, and people cannot tolerate it. He says he’s a skeleton of the person he was before detention."
Councilwoman Limón referenced detainees who described the facility as "a graveyard of the living." Since its opening on August 1, 2025, three individuals have died there, including Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos, whose death was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner's Office. Lunas Campos died on January 3, 2026, after being restrained by at least five guards; witnesses reported to the Associated Press that one guard applied pressure around his neck while he repeatedly stated he couldn't breathe.
ICE labeled the incident as an intervention to prevent a supposed suicide attempt, a claim contradicted by the forensic report that identified asphyxia due to compression of the neck and torso. The FBI launched a criminal investigation, confirmed to Congress in April 2026, and by July, the family filed a civil lawsuit against four guards and companies linked to the center, seeking over a million dollars in damages.
Challenges and Controversies
The other deaths involved Francisco Gaspar-Andres in December 2025 and Víctor Manuel Díaz in January 2026, all occurring within roughly six weeks. In March 2026, the council had already requested a federal grand jury investigation into these deaths, and the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit in May aiming to halt the center's operations.
Resident Mary Holguin posed an unanswered question during public comments: "Where will they send these people if it closes?"
The Department of Homeland Security staunchly denied the allegations. "The radical politicians on the El Paso City Council won't stop us from arresting and detaining illegal aliens who have no place in American communities. Our message remains: Immigration and Customs Enforcement will not slow down," the agency stated, calling the accusations "false, repugnant, and irresponsible," and assured that all detainees receive three meals a day, potable water, clothing, bedding, showers, and hygiene products.
The council is set to vote on the final resolution within the next 30 days, marking the most decisive action yet taken by El Paso's municipal government against Camp East Montana's operations.
Key Questions About Camp East Montana and Immigration Detention
What is the significance of Camp East Montana?
Camp East Montana is the largest immigration detention center in the United States, located on the grounds of Fort Bliss military base in El Paso. It has been controversial due to reported human rights violations and recent deaths, including that of Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos.
What legal actions have been taken against the center?
Legal actions include a federal grand jury investigation requested by the El Paso City Council, a federal lawsuit by the ACLU seeking to stop the center's operations, and a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Geraldo Lunas Campos against guards and companies associated with the facility.
How has ICE responded to the allegations?
ICE has dismissed the allegations as "false, repugnant, and irresponsible," maintaining that detainees are provided with essential needs such as food, water, clothing, and hygiene items. They assert that their operations will continue despite political opposition.