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February 23, 2026 – USA –
An independent journalist has reported serious concerns about living and medical conditions inside Camp East Montana, an immigration detention facility in El Paso, Texas, after speaking directly with detainees during recent visits to the site. The accounts have renewed scrutiny of conditions at the facility, which is operated under the authority of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has been the subject of mounting criticism from advocates and lawmakers.
The journalist, Nick Valencia, a former CNN correspondent now working independently, said he entered the facility while assisting an attorney as a translator during legal visits. According to Valencia, detainees used the opportunity to raise urgent concerns about overcrowding, sanitation, and access to healthcare. He later shared their accounts publicly, describing conditions inside the camp as deeply troubling.
Detainees told Valencia that large numbers of people are held in tightly packed living spaces where dozens sleep and eat in the same rooms. Several reported fears of illness spreading rapidly due to close quarters and inadequate hygiene. Some detainees claimed that skin infections were circulating within the camp, while others described long delays in receiving medical attention after requesting care.
One detainee recounted a medical emergency involving a woman who reportedly experienced severe bleeding and required emergency surgery outside the facility. According to the account relayed by Valencia, the woman later returned to detention while still recovering. Other detainees said routine medical complaints often went untreated for extended periods, heightening anxiety among those held at the camp.
Camp East Montana began operations in 2025 as part of an expansion of immigration detention capacity in the region. Since then, civil liberties groups and local officials have raised repeated concerns about transparency, oversight, and detainee welfare. Valencia’s reporting adds first-hand testimony to those broader criticisms, amplifying calls for independent inspections and stronger safeguards.
ICE has acknowledged awareness of concerns raised about conditions at the facility, but has not publicly confirmed the specific allegations described by detainees. Agency officials have said that complaints are subject to internal review.
Members of Congress representing the El Paso area have previously called for greater accountability and access to information about the camp’s operations. As pressure builds, Valencia’s accounts have intensified debate over detention standards, medical care, and the treatment of migrants held at Camp East Montana, with advocates urging swift action to address the reported conditions.
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