Immigration enforcement in the United States is facing fresh scrutiny as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) alleges shocking abuse inside ICE detention facilities.
According to the ACLU, men held at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, have endured extreme violence, sexual abuse, and inhumane treatment—painting a disturbing picture of life inside one of the country’s largest immigration detention sites.
Accounts of Brutality and Neglect
In a detailed letter to ICE, the ACLU cited testimony from more than 45 detainees, including 16 signed declarations, describing repeated beatings, sexual assaults, denial of medical care, and coercion aimed at forcing self-deportation.
These reports suggest that the facility’s problems are far from isolated incidents.
Among the cases highlighted is that of Geraldo Lunas Campos, who died in ICE custody after reportedly being choked by an officer during a confrontation.
His death has been officially ruled a homicide.
Another detainee, Francisco Gaspar Andres, a Guatemalan immigrant, passed away from liver and kidney failure on December 3, 2025, after allegedly being denied proper medical attention at Fort Bliss.
“These deaths point to systemic failures,” the ACLU warned, stressing that violent treatment and medical neglect appear to be recurring patterns rather than exceptions.
Disturbing Stories from the Inside
Some of the accounts are particularly harrowing.
A teenage detainee, referred to as Samuel, told investigators he was beaten so severely that he required hospitalization.
He described officers crushing his testicles and causing lasting damage to his ears and teeth.
Other detainees, including men identified as Ignacio, Abel, Benjamin, and Eduardo, reported similar assaults.
They said officers targeted their genitals during beatings, sometimes while restrained or after refusing forced deportation.
The ACLU described these incidents as part of a “pattern of brutality that violates even ICE’s minimal standards.”
Conditions at Fort Bliss: Overcrowded and Unsafe
Fort Bliss, ICE’s first detention facility on a military base, opened just three months ago in a still-partially unfinished construction zone.
With a planned capacity of around 3,000 people, the site houses immigrants in tent structures exposed to extreme El Paso heat.
Detainees say conditions are dire. Each tent pod is meant for 60–70 people, but meals only accommodate about 50, forcing many to skip meals or ration food.
Reports of spoiled and frozen food have caused vomiting, diarrhea, and rapid weight loss.
Basic hygiene supplies, including soap, toilet paper, and clean clothing, are scarce.
Flooded tents and bathrooms contaminated with human waste have contributed to unsafe living conditions.
Medical Care and Legal Access Critically Lacking
Medical attention is reportedly inadequate. Josefina, a diabetic detainee, said her insulin was administered irregularly, putting her at serious risk.
Another detainee went 15 days without blood pressure medication, while others received care only after fainting or showing severe warning signs.
Access to attorneys is also limited.
Initially, legal visits relied heavily on tablets, offering little privacy.
Even after changes, only ten detainees can meet lawyers daily, an impossible ratio for a 3,000-person facility.
Many lack functional PINs to contact attorneys, and the law library contains almost no legal resources.
Oversight Restrictions Raise Concerns
The ACLU highlights ICE’s strict control over inspections.
Congressional oversight is limited, with mandatory seven-day notices and frequent access denials.
During the government shutdown, congressional relations staff were labeled “non-essential,” cutting off important information channels.
“If this is the state of a brand-new, billion-dollar facility within its first 90 days,” the ACLU said, “the outlook for the next wave of military-base detention centers is dire.”
A Warning About the Future
Fort Bliss is not an anomaly, according to the ACLU.
ICE is reportedly scouting other military bases, including Fort Dix in New Jersey and a Coast Guard facility in New York, for future detention operations.
The organization warns that the cruelty and neglect seen at Fort Bliss are predictable outcomes of rapid expansion, minimal safeguards, and almost no oversight.
“What we are witnessing at Fort Bliss is not an accident,” the ACLU concluded.
“It is the predictable result of reckless expansion, minimal safeguards, and virtually no oversight.”
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn