Press Releases
Congresswoman Escobar Reiterates Her Opposition to Any New Migrant Detention Facilities in El Paso
Washington, D.C.,
February 4, 2026
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Abbey Thompson
(202-225-4831)
Yesterday, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) sent a letter to Department of Homeland (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons expressing her concerns over potential new immigration detention facilities in her district. The letter can be found in its entirety below and here. “Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons: "I am writing to strongly oppose further construction of any more immigration detention facilities within El Paso County, Texas. "My office is aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified a location within my district as the potential site of a new immigration detention center. My district
currently houses Camp East Montana, a detention facility run and operated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the largest detention facility in the country. Camp East Montana, which was hastily constructed last summer and began operations in August 2025, is warehousing immigrants in inhumane conditions with little oversight and no accountability. Three people have died so far at Camp East Montana, including one death that was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner.
"El Pasoans do not want more detention facilities in our community. During a weekly meeting of the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court, over 200 El Paso County residents spoke out against the construction of further detention facilities in the area. I stand firmly with the wishes of my constituents, neighbors, and community and urge DHS to suspend any and all plans to build further detention facilities."
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