Camp East Montana, the last and largest of the new migrant detention centers that open throughout the country, received criticism from immigration defenders after officially opening Sunday.
The protesters greeted the opening of the facilities during the weekend.
The detention center, on the lands of Fort Bliss in Texas, can currently house 1,000 migrants, and officials say that it can eventually expand to maintain 5,000.
“We are demanding that this administration do what they say they will do if they are not going to close the camps,” said Kvia de Marisa Limon Garza, executive director of the Immigrant Defense Center of the Americas. “At least, we need access to people who have due process and should have access to lawyers.”
The criticism occurred when a federal judge listened to lawyers for detainees on Monday at the Florida detention center, known as “Alcatraz”, who say they lack adequate access to lawyers and are detained without formal immigration or immigration charges against them.
The Democratic representative Veronica Escobar, who toured the new Texas detention Center on Monday, said about the price of the installation: “I want you to think about how much the money could do well in the pass For the step. “
“There is a lot of good that money could do for Pasoans, but instead it is being used to finance mass deportation by the Trump administration,” he said.
The protesters oppose the massive deportations of the ice retention signals during a protest held at the Cassidy Gate in Fort Bliss, the base of the US Army. UU., Where a new ice detention installation is being built, in El Paso, Texas, on August 17, 2025.
Paul Ratje/Reuters
“It is important that people understand that we are not talking about gardeners or housewives,” said Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who visited the facilities last week. “These are people who did not appear at the hearings ordered by the Court. There is no concern for due process. They have no legal right to be here.”
“Under the leadership of President Trump, we are working at turbo speed in profitable and innovative ways to comply with the mandate of the American people for mass deportations of illegal criminal foreigners,” said the assistant secretary of the Department of National Security, Tricia McLaughlin on Monday. “The only Big Beautiful bill has provided historical funds to help us carry out this mandate, especially ensuring sufficient detention capacity to maintain an average daily population of 100,000 illegal foreigners and 80,000 new ice beds.”
“The Fort Bliss installation will offer everything that a traditional ice detention center offers, including access to legal representation and a law library, access to visits, recreational space, medical treatment space and nutritionally balanced foods,” McLaughlin said. “It also provides necessary adaptations for disabilities, diet and religious beliefs.”
Luke Baro de ABC News contributed to this report.
