You might think what happens at immigration facilities isn't your direct concern, but what's unfolding at El Paso's Camp East Montana should make anyone paying attention sit up. We're talking about serious public health issues and alarming questions about accountability inside a huge federal detention center right here in Texas. Recently, two active tuberculosis cases popped up at this facility. That's not all; 18 people also have COVID-19. Imagine that – two airborne diseases spreading in a place housing thousands. U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar got a firsthand look last Friday. She visited the sprawling 5,000-bed tent setup at Fort Bliss. Her take? The "chronic issues" she's talked about before, they're still there. At the end of January, about 3,100 folks were held there, including hundreds of women. A surprising number, about one-third, have a chronic illness. Plus, 200 to 300 detainees need daily insulin. You'd expect top-tier medical care in such a situation, especially when the government is essentially holding people. But reports suggest otherwise. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, hasn't said much when asked about these issues. Their silence speaks volumes, doesn't it? This news about TB and COVID-19 isn't isolated. Just a week prior, two measles cases emerged at a different immigrant detention center near San Antonio, leading to a lockdown. These aren't just medical incidents; they raise fundamental questions about public health policies and the government's duty of care for those in its custody. It’s a legal obligation for authorities to ensure a safe environment, particularly when dealing with infectious diseases that can jump to the wider community. Beyond the immediate health concerns, immigrant rights groups have been vocal about the "inhumane conditions" at Camp East Montana. They've reported physical abuse and, critically, medical neglect. This brings up serious constitutional questions about due process and the right to humane treatment. When the government detains someone, it takes on a significant responsibility for their well-being. Failing to provide adequate medical care, or allowing abuse, could lead to legal challenges alleging violations of basic rights. And it gets darker. Three migrants have died at this facility in its first six months. One case, Geraldo Lunas Campos, initially had ICE saying he died from "medical distress," then later from a "suicide attempt." But the El Paso Medical Examiner’s report, released just recently, calls his death a homicide. It says there was so much pressure on his neck and chest that he couldn't breathe. A homicide. That’s a stark word that suggests criminal liability and a profound failure of care and oversight. Representative Escobar didn't pull any punches, saying the private company running this place, Acquisition Logistics LLC, is "getting worse, not better." This small Virginia-based business apparently has no prior experience running correctional facilities. This highlights a contentious public policy debate: should private companies, often prioritizing profit, be entrusted with such sensitive governmental functions, especially without clear experience or robust oversight? When a death is ruled a homicide in a privately run facility, it raises huge legal and ethical questions about corporate accountability and government responsibility. Camp East Montana is already the biggest immigration detention center in the country. But get this: the Department of Homeland Security is looking to build two more in El Paso and Dallas, each potentially holding up to 9,500 people. If we're seeing these kinds of serious health and safety issues now, what does that mean for even larger facilities? It's a legal and moral puzzle we, as a society, need to sort out. Our laws and our humanity demand better.