Problems at ICE facility include guard who lost loaded weapon, failure to test for tuberculosis, report says

ImmigrationProblems at ICE facility include guard who lost loaded weapon, failure to test for tuberculosis, report saysA congressional watchdog group found “serious performance and oversight challenges” at the country’s largest ICE detention center, Camp East Montana in Texas. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Camp East Montana outside El Paso, Texas, has experienced outbreaks of both tuberculosis and measles.Paul Ratje / Redux PicturesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 9, 2026, 5:45 PM EDTBy Daniella SilvaThe largest ICE detention center in the country lost track of a loaded firearm, did not provide treatment to detainees with chronic health conditions, and failed to test immigrants for tuberculosis, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office published Tuesday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The investigation from the congressional watchdog found “serious performance and oversight challenges” at Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss, which is outside El Paso, Texas. In one case, evidence associated with the death of a detainee was missing or destroyed, according to the report. That death was announced as a “presumed suicide” at the time, but later the local coroner determined it was a homicide. It is now under investigation by the FBI and the inspector general.The tented facility has had a troubled history since it opened on the Army base less than a year ago in August, starting with a fatal construction accident and three detainee deaths in less than six weeks, including the death ruled a homicide. There have also been outbreaks of both tuberculosis and measles.The GAO said that after ICE took over contract administration responsibilities at Camp East Montana from the Army in October, it continued to not meet contractual requirements. ICE itself issued eight discrepancy reports and one oversight report for Camp East Montana that identified “serious problems” at the fa...