Both detainees have pending court cases. We gave the men privacy release forms for their loved ones to sign so we could formally inquire about their cases. Both men called us later that day to tell us that CEM staff had confiscated the forms, preventing us from helping them.
Congress Member Profile|U.S. Representative|Democrat|Texas District 16
Veronica Escobar
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Voting Record — 498
Yes40%
No59%
Present0%
Not Voting1%
Party align98%
Cross-party0%
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District Map
Congressional District 16
U.S. Census Bureau boundary data.
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Veronica Escobar
U.S. RepresentativeDemocratTexas District 16
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Veronica's ATmosphere Activity
20 recent posts · 13 sponsored · 59 cosponsored
Recent ATmosphere posts, sponsorships, and cosponsorships.
When I returned to where my staff was waiting, we met two men (there separately) waiting to see loved ones. One was a veteran from Minnesota (a Marine) waiting to see his wife. The other was from NY, there to see his 70 year-old dad. Both had been denied entry the day before.
I asked if detainees had access to a tablet/phone to call lawyers and was told because it was a temporary (24-36 hr) holding space, detainees wouldn't get access until they were in a new pod. I reminded them they had just told me the men had been in that pod for several days.
A guard warned us not to go in the pod because the men hadn't been tested for TB (there have been two TB cases at CEM). I asked ICE why civilian staff going in the room weren't wearing masks and was told they chose not to. I asked if they'd heard that for themselves; they hadn't.
As we walked to the next pod, I was told the entire wing was for temporary holding (24-36 hours) and once "processed," detainees would get clean uniforms. Yet I saw a group of men still in their street clothes and learned they had been there for several days (more than 36 hrs).
At this point, I was told I could no longer talk to them. When I asked ICE why their clothes hadn't been washed, I was told that the detainees *chose* to wash their own clothes. Not true. I've repeatedly pointed this out and nothing changes. But the company continues to be paid.
The women had clothing hanging up to dry in their space (called a "pod"). They washed it all themselves with what little shampoo they were given. I asked why they didn't give their clothes to staff to be washed and they said they were unaware of that; they were never informed.
Before ICE staff told me about new rules re: talking to detainees, I'd begun a conversation with a group of women, one of whom told me her adult son was also detained at the facility and despite her requests, she had not been allowed to speak with him. She was very distraught.
Once inside, the issues I've flagged to staff before still hadn't improved. Reminder: a private company gets $1.24 BILLION of our tax dollars to house, feed and provide care for up to 5,000 people per day at Camp East Montana, and that includes payments to wash clothing 3x/week.
Among the new rules: congressional staff wouldn't be allowed to accompany me and I wouldn't be allowed to speak to detainees because I hadn't provided "advance notice." Reminder: this was an unannounced visit, which is allowable by law. Also, these weren't requirements before.
On Friday I made an unannounced oversight visit to Camp East Montana (CEM), my 6th visit in 6 months. Remember: 3 people have died inside; one of those deaths was a homicide (allegedly at the hands of civilian security personnel). I learned Friday that DHS had new rules for me.
After 6 months of oversight visits to Camp East Montana, the $1.24 billion immigration detention facility in El Paso, it's clear the company running it is defrauding taxpayers, preventing detainees from talking to lawyers, and DHS is assisting them by obstructing Congress.
Long thread incoming 🧵
🚨 Republicans just blocked me from asking questions to DHS and ICE leaders.
Despite everything we're seeing happen in our country, Republicans continue to protect DHS.
🚨 I just conducted an unannounced visit to Camp East Montana, the largest, most expensive immigration detention facility in the country.
While the private corporation continues to pocket our tax dollars, it's clear the conditions are only getting worse.
Not only are provisions like no tax on tips in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" temporary, they also come with a lot of stipulations.
While Republicans slash your healthcare & supercharge ICE, they're making you jump through hoops for the "benefits" they're touting.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
In an increasingly desensitized world, stories like this about the very real, personal consequences of Trump's mass deportation program have never been more important to tell 👇🏽
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
I stand firmly with the wishes of my constituents, neighbors, and community and urge DHS to suspend any and all plans to build further detention facilities.
El Pasoans do not want more detention facilities in our community. During a weekly meeting of the El Paso County Commissioner’s Court, over 200 El Paso County residents spoke out against the construction of further detention facilities in the area.
Three people have died so far at Camp East Montana, including one death that was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Medical Examiner.
Camp East Montana, which was hastily constructed last summer and began operations in August 2025, is warehousing immigrants in inhumane conditions with little oversight and no accountability.
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Voting History498 total votesExpandCollapse
Voting History
498 total votes
Recent roll calls with party-majority context so it is easier to scan how this member tends to vote.
| Date | Bill | Question | Position | Party Maj | Align? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | H.R. 6703 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-17 | H.R. 6703 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-17 | H.R. 3616 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-17 | H. Con. Res. 64 (119th) | Approve resolution | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-17 | H. Con. Res. 61 (119th) | Approve resolution | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-17 | H. Res. 953 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-17 | H. Res. 953 (119th) | End debate now | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-16 | H.R. 3632 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-16 | H.R. 3632 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-16 | H.R. 4371 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-16 | H.R. 4371 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-16 | H. Res. 951 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-16 | H. Res. 951 (119th) | End debate now | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-16 | H.R. 3187 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-15 | S. 284 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-12 | H.R. 3668 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-12 | H.R. 3668 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 2550 (119th) | Final passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H. Res. 432 (119th) | Approve resolution | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3898 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3898 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3383 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3383 (119th) | Approve amendment | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3383 (119th) | Approve amendment | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3383 (119th) | Approve amendment | NO | NO | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3638 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H.R. 3628 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-11 | H. Res. 939 (119th) | Kill the motion | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-10 | H. Res. 432 (119th) | Motion to Discharge | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-10 | S. 1071 (119th) | Final passage | NO | YES | ✕ | Passed |
| 2025-12-10 | S. 1071 (119th) | Motion to Commit | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-12-10 | H. Res. 936 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-10 | H. Res. 936 (119th) | End debate now | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-10 | H.R. 1676 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-09 | S. 356 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-04 | H.R. 1049 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-04 | H.R. 1069 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-03 | H.R. 1005 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-03 | H.R. 4305 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-03 | H.R. 2965 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-02 | H. Res. 916 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-02 | H. Res. 916 (119th) | End debate now | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-02 | H.R. 4423 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-12-01 | H.R. 5348 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-21 | H. Con. Res. 58 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-20 | H.R. 1949 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-20 | H.R. 3109 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-20 | H. Res. 893 (119th) | Motion to Refer | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-20 | H.R. 6019 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-11-20 | H.R. 4058 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
Alignment stats consider only votes where a clear yes/no majority existed for the legislator's party. Cross-party marks divergence where the vote matched the opposite party majority. ↔ indicates cross-party divergence.