West Texas facility to become largest migrant detention center in the country

Texas Sen. John Cornyn on Monday toured the Camp East Montana facility located at the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso. The site is expected to begin operations on Aug. 17 and will initially be capable of holding 1,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Department of Defense. Officials expect to expand the capacity to 5,000 over the next two years, making it the largest federal detention facility in the country. The $1.2 billion facility is being built under a DOD contract, according to Border Report, and it will serve as a processing center where authorities will refer migrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Air Operations for return flights to their home countries.

What else do we know about the facility? The center will provide detainees with the same access to legal representation, medical care, and recreational space as individuals have at other similar facilities, ICE Spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa told the El Paso Times. Detainees will also have accommodations for disabilities, diet, and religious beliefs. Structures will be soft-sided and consist mostly of canvas tents, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report about the arrest of a man who was once one of the most wanted men in America.