A recent investigation by the Associated Press paints a disturbing picture of life inside the largest immigration detention facility in the United States. According to reporting by Morgan Lee, Ryan J. Foley, and Michael Biesecker, hundreds of emergency calls from inside the facility reveal a pattern of distress, medical emergencies, and deteriorating mental health among detainees.

The detention site — known as Camp East Montana — sits on a U.S. Army base near El Paso. Built largely from hardened tents in the desert, the facility has become a focal point of controversy as the federal government expands immigration detention capacity.

A Pattern of Emergency Calls

Data obtained by reporters shows that 911 calls from the camp occurred nearly once per day for five months. These calls were made by staff responding to emergencies involving detainees.

According to the investigation, the incidents included:

• Repeated suicide attempts

• Seizures and medical emergencies

• Assaults and fights between detainees

• Pregnant detainees suffering severe pain

• Mental health crises and self-harm

In one call, a man reportedly began banging his head against a wall after expressing suicidal thoughts. In another, staff called for help after a detainee was assaulted by another detainee and left sobbing in distress.

These incidents, drawn from more than a hundred emergency calls, court filings, and interviews with detainees, suggest conditions that go far beyond routine detention management.

Accounts From Inside

One former detainee, Owen Ramsingh, described the emotional toll of confinement at the facility.

“Every day felt like a week. Every week felt like a month. Every month felt like a year,” Ramsingh said.

Ramsingh, a former property manager from Missouri who was deported to the Netherlands in February, described the environment as far worse than prison, citing overcrowding, poor conditions, and psychological strain.

Allegations of Overcrowding and Neglect

Interviews and legal filings cited in the report point to several systemic issues inside the camp, including:

• Overcrowded living spaces

• Delayed or inadequate medical care

• Malnutrition complaints

• Widespread emotional distress among detainees

Advocates argue that these problems are intensified by the scale of the facility and the speed at which the detention system has expanded.

A Larger Immigration Enforcement Push

The detention expansion comes as immigration enforcement operations increase nationwide under Donald Trump. Billions of dollars in funding have been directed toward immigration enforcement and detention infrastructure, part of a broader effort to reduce the number of unauthorized migrants living in the United States.

Supporters of stricter immigration enforcement argue that detention is necessary to maintain border control and ensure compliance with immigration laws. Critics say the current system places vulnerable people in dangerous conditions and raises serious human rights concerns.

Why This Story Matters

Stories like this highlight a part of immigration policy that most Americans rarely see: what happens after someone is detained.

Detention facilities operate largely out of public view, and investigative reporting plays an important role in bringing those conditions to light. The 911 calls from Camp East Montana offer a rare window into the day-to-day reality inside one of the country’s largest immigration detention centers.

Regardless of political views on immigration policy, the details emerging from this investigation raise difficult questions about how detainees are treated and what standards of care the government should uphold.

Source and Author Credit

This blog post is based on reporting by Morgan Lee, Ryan J. Foley, and Michael Biesecker, originally published by the Associated Press on March 6, 2026.