Texas detention camp stirs controversy as Army awards $1.2B deal to obscure company.
WASHINGTON: A $1.2 billion Army contract to build and run what could become the largest US immigration Texas Detention Camp at Fort Bliss, Texas, has sparked controversy and secrecy. The deal was awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a small Virginia-based firm with little track record in prison management and no major federal contracts beyond $16 million.
The facility, called Camp East Montana, is set to house up to 5,000 migrants in giant tents across 60 acres of desert land. Construction began just days after the contract was approved on July 18, despite the company lacking a proper website and operating from a modest suburban home.
The Army and Pentagon have declined to release details of the contract, while a rival bidder, Texas-based Gemini Tech Services, has filed a protest questioning Acquisition Logistics’ qualifications and capacity. Legal challenges are pending with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and a federal court.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved the use of Fort Bliss as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy, which includes mass deportations. The Department of Homeland Security says the camp will provide legal access, medical care, and recreation, though rights groups warn of poor oversight and potential abuse, comparing it to World War II-era military internment camps.Texas Detention Camp
So far, three massive tents and several smaller structures have been erected. Critics argue the rushed, secretive process risks unsafe conditions, while officials insist the project is essential to handle the growing number of migrants detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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