Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Detainee Death at Camp East Montana Likely to be Classified as Homicide

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement in response to the Washington Post's article about a detainee death at Camp East Montana likely to be classified as a homicide:

I have been sounding the alarm about Camp East Montana, a $1.24 billion privately operated immigration detention facility funded by American taxpayers since it opened. Among the consistent concerns from detainees has been the lack of access to necessary medication, retaliation, and a number of other issues. And we have now learned that another detainee has died, and the El Paso County Medical Examiner is likely to rule it a homicide.

I reiterate what I've said before: this facility should be shut down and the contract terminated. It has never adhered to basic or appropriate standards to ensure the safety and dignity of the human beings in custody and it is clearly a profit-making enterprise for the corporation.

For months, I have asked Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons to provide me with information about the contract and the facility and to address the concerns I raised with them. As a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for the House Appropriations Committee, I can unequivocally say that DHS is operating with absolutely no regard for transparency, truthfulness or regard for human life.

There must be accountability for this and other egregious violations of our values as a nation and the laws DHS is required to follow.