Mounting Evidence of Abuse and Neglect at fort Bliss Immigration Detention Center Prompts Urgent Calls for Examination
El Paso, TX – December 12, 2025 – A coalition of leading civil rights and immigration advocacy groups has sent a scathing letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas detailing harrowing accounts of systemic abuse, neglect, and coercion at the Fort Bliss Emergency Intake Site, the nation’s largest immigration detention center. The letter, backed by sworn declarations from over 45 detained individuals and recent Congressional warnings, paints a disturbing picture of conditions that experts say constitute a humanitarian crisis and potential violations of international law.
This report builds upon growing concerns regarding Fort Bliss,initially flagged in September 2025 by a Washington Post investigation revealing over 60 violations of federal detention standards within the facility’s first 50 days of operation. the new evidence, gathered through extensive interviews and legal documentation, alleges a pattern of excessive force, sexual abuse, and deliberate intimidation tactics employed by detention officers.
A History of Warnings Ignored
the opening of the sprawling tent camp in August 2025, under the previous administration, was met with immediate criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups who predicted a humanitarian disaster. These warnings stemmed, in part, from the facility’s location on a historic military base - a site with a deeply troubling past as a WWII internment camp for people of Japanese descent. Despite these concerns, the facility rapidly expanded to house over 2,700 individuals, becoming the largest immigration detention center in the United States.
Recent reports from Representative Veronica Escobar further underscored the deteriorating conditions, highlighting concerns about foul-tasting water, rotten food, and inadequate medical care. The current letter serves as a formal demand for immediate action, building on these earlier observations with concrete, firsthand accounts of abuse.
Detailed Accounts of Brutality and Coercion
The letter details shocking allegations of physical and sexual assault perpetrated by Fort Bliss officers. One especially disturbing account comes from “Samuel,” a detained teenager who, under a pseudonym to protect his safety, described a brutal beating that left him with notable injuries. According to Samuel’s sworn declaration, officers slammed him to the ground, breaking his front tooth and inflicting severe trauma, including abusive sexual contact. He alleges officers laughed at his injuries and mocked him while he struggled to remain conscious.he now experiences hearing loss due to damage sustained during the assault.
These allegations are not isolated. “Ignacio,” a cuban immigrant also using a pseudonym, detailed a similar experience in his sworn statement. He claims officers repeatedly struck his head against a wall, crushed his testicles, and then threatened him with deportation to Mexico, imprisonment in El Salvador, or even transfer to Africa if he refused to cooperate. Ignacio was then transported to the border and pressured to cross into Mexico against his will.
Forced Removals and the Threat of Violence
The letter also raises serious concerns about the practice of “third country removals” – the deportation of non-Mexican immigrants to Mexico.Interviewees report that at Fort bliss, this practice is being carried out through coercion and intimidation, with officers using threats of violence, false criminal charges, and the prospect of indefinite detention to force individuals to accept removal to a country where they have no ties or support network. This practice raises significant legal and ethical questions, potentially violating international non-refoulement obligations.
Call for Immediate Action and Self-reliant Investigation
The coalition of organizations – including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of New Mexico, ACLU of Texas, Estrella del Paso, Human Rights Watch, Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy center, New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, and Texas Civil Rights Project – is demanding the following:
* Immediate cessation of third country removals from Fort Bliss.
* A thorough and independent investigation into the allegations of abuse and neglect.
* Access for independent observers to monitor conditions at the facility.
* Provision of adequate medical and mental health care for all detainees.
* Accountability for officers found to have engaged in misconduct.
“The evidence is overwhelming: Fort Bliss is a site of systemic abuse and human rights violations,” said [Spokesperson Name/Title from Lead Organization]. “The DHS must act swiftly to address these issues, protect the safety and well-being of detainees, and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. The continued operation of this facility in its current state is a moral failing and a stain on our nation’s commitment to due process and human dignity.”
Resources:
* ACLU Report & Declarations: [https://wwwacluorg/documents/fort-bliss-declarations-[https://wwwacluorg/documents/fort-bliss-declarations-[https://wwwacluorg/documents/fort-bliss-declarations-[https://wwwacluorg/documents/fort-bliss-declarations-
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