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Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement reacting to the Government Accountability Office report titled “Waste and Performance Issues at Camp East Montana Provide Valuable Lessons for Future Facilities”:

“A loaded gun taken onto a military installation by a private contractor who lost this weapon; evidence in a homicide investigation that was destroyed; tens of millions of taxpayer dollars paid in this no-bid contract that funded services not rendered. These are just a few of the explosive details revealed in a GAO report about the $1.3 billion tent city known as Camp East Montana. These findings confirm some of what I have been sounding the alarm about since it first opened ten months ago, but incredulously, doesn’t come close to identifying everything I’ve discovered and shared with the public during my oversight visits.

“The ongoing waste, fraud and abuse at Camp East Montana are made possible by Republicans’ so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which cut healthcare and nutrition programs, gave millionaires big tax breaks and provided historic tax dollars to the Department at Homeland Security. At a time when Americans are struggling under the weight of rising inflation, increasing gasoline, grocery and utility bills, Republicans will today vote to give ICE and CBP an additional $70 billion and are continuing with these corrupt no-bid contracts, including for three warehouses in Socorro, Texas.

“Camp East Montana needs to be shut down, the contractor investigated, the crime of destruction of evidence referred to law enforcement, and Republicans should work with us to redirect these funds to meet the needs of hardworking Americans.”

TUBERCULOSIS:

On December 3, 2025, ICE issued a discrepancy report on the contractor’s inadequate tuberculosis screening procedures. The contractor had been using tuberculosis symptom questionnaires—rather than administering the required skin tests—for detainees at intake. As a result, in November 2025, a detainee with tuberculosis was housed with the general population. (Page 17)

DESTROYED HOMICIDE EVIDENCE:

On February 20, 2026, ICE issued a discrepancy report for a detainee death by use of force in January 2026. The coroner’s autopsy found the death to be a homicide due to asphyxia. However, the contractor did not provide use of force and death reports to ICE, as required. In addition, evidence associated with the incident was missing or destroyed. (Page 18)

LOST FIREARM:

A contractor lost a loaded firearm in January 2026 and had not been recovered as of March 2026. (Page 17)

LACK OF MEDICAL TREATMENT/CARE:

Contractors conducted health screenings at intake, but did not follow up with comprehensive health assessments for detainees. As a result, detainees with chronic conditions did not receive treatment and care in accordance with National Detention Standards. For example, none of the detained noncitizens with diabetes or HIV had treatment plans in place. (Page 17)

DETAINEE ESCAPING:

On March 3, 2026, ICE issued a discrepancy report related to a detained noncitizen escaping from Camp East Montana in October 2025. ICE oversight officials attributed the escape to the contractor’s inability to account for detainee. (Page 18)