A large immigration detention camp in Texas has been closed to visitors and attorneys due to a measles outbreak, according to U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar.
Key Takeaways
A large immigration detention center in Texas has been closed to visitors due to a measles outbreak, affecting access to legal representation. The camp, known as Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss Army base, currently has 14 active measles cases and 112 people isolated.
- Measles outbreak at Camp East Montana detains 14 active cases
- Facility closed to visitors until March 19 or March 20
- Detainees can only access lawyers virtually during closure
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Where Sources Differ
An ICE Inspection Found Conditions At
The Guardian: An ICE inspection found conditions at Camp East Montana violated federal standards
AP News & CNN: CNN, and Chicago Tribune state that DHS disputes these claims and the facility has not been inspected yet
The Conditions At Camp East Montana
AP News & CNN: Describe the conditions at Camp East Montana as loud and unsanitary
The Guardian: Provides more detailed accounts of overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition, and emotional distress
The Camp Will Remain Closed To
AP News & CNN: The camp will remain closed to visitors until March 19 or March 20
The Guardian: Reports plans are advancing for the shuttering of Camp East Montana entirely
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The facility, known as Camp East Montana on the Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, currently has 14 active measles cases and 112 people isolated. The camp will remain closed until March 19 or March 20, affecting access to legal representation for detainees.
Escobar expressed concern about the preventable crisis creating conditions where detainees can only access their lawyers virtually. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security have not responded to requests for comment.
The camp opened last year after the Trump administration awarded a contract worth up to $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia contractor with no prior experience operating an ICE facility. Detainees have described living in loud and unsanitary quarters where diseases spread easily.
Measles, declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, has affected Texas communities due to underfunded vaccine programs, with West Texas particularly hard hit.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 7 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.