Largest ICE Detention Facility in the U.S. to Open Despite Contract Disputes, Safety Probes and an Unresolved On-Site Death

The Trump administration is set to open a new immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss, Texas later this week. The facility is expected to eventually become the largest in the country, with space for up to 5,000 people, though it will open with capacity to hold 1,000.

The opening, however, is marked by controversy and comes after months of setbacks, including two investigations into possible improper bidding, two canceled contracts and, most recently, a death on the construction site, as a new report by NBC News explains.

As the report explains, the initial contract was awarded to a company but was later canceled amid concerns about improper bidding. A public posting about the cancelation cited an executive order signed by Trump dealing with "radical transparency" and "wasteful spending."

Subsequent attempts to reassign the contract faced delays and legal challenges. Eventually, the Department of Defense awarded a $1.2 billion contract to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a small business with limited prior experience in detention operations. Disaster Management Group, led by Nathan Albers, a Republican donor with a history of labor violations, was named as a subcontractor.

Albers previously co-owned TentLogix, a company that pleaded guilty in 2019 to employing undocumented workers. Despite not being personally charged, Albers' involvement has raised concerns about the vetting process for federal contractors.

Further complications arose recently with the tragic death of Hector Gonzalez, a 38-year-old contractor employed by Disaster Management Group, who died on July 21 following a workplace accident at the Fort Bliss construction site. The incident is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. The Department of Homeland Security has referred all questions regarding the death to the Department of Defense.

Despite these challenges, the facility is moving forward as part of a broader effort to expand detention capacity. ICE is currently holding a record 60,000 immigrants in detention, and the new facility is intended to alleviate overcrowding.

The facility at Fort Bliss is described as a "soft-sided" structure, similar to the "Alligator Alcatraz" camp in Florida, designed for temporary use. While the Department of Homeland Security has emphasized the need for increased detention space, the use of such facilities has also raised concerns about cost-effectiveness and security.

The Fort Bliss facility is expected to play a significant role in the administration's immigration enforcement strategy. Senator John Cornyn recently toured the site, describing it as a "humane, safe facility" and emphasizing its purpose for detaining individuals with criminal convictions or final orders of deportation.