GAO Reports Significant Issues at ICE's Largest Detention Facility

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing serious issues at Camp East Montana, the largest ICE detention facility, which opened in August 2025 at Fort Bliss, Texas. The facility, capable of housing 5,000 detainees, has faced multiple challenges, including the loss of a firearm by a security guard, inadequate medical care for detainees with chronic illnesses, and a lack of necessary security measures. The report highlighted that ICE did not inspect the facility prior to its opening, violating internal protocols. Additionally, the report noted a detainee's death, initially classified as a presumed suicide, was later ruled a homicide by the local coroner. Investigations by the FBI and the inspector general are ongoing regarding this incident. The GAO made four recommendations to improve oversight, which were agreed upon by the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department.