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).
Congress Member Profile|U.S. Representative|Democrat|Texas District 16
Veronica Escobar
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Voting Record — 568
Yes41%
No57%
Present0%
Not Voting2%
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 · 14 sponsored · 62 cosponsored
Recent ATmosphere posts, sponsorships, and cosponsorships.
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.
My district currently houses Camp East Montana, a detention facility run and operated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the largest detention facility in the country.
My office is aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified a location within my district as the potential site of a new immigration detention center.
Yesterday, I sent a letter to Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons expressing my opposition to potential new immigration detention facilities in my district.
🧵
$170 billion for immigration/border enforcement
$3.5 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy
$40 billion to bail out Argentina
And now a $7 million for a *Super Bowl commercial*?
Budgets and how we spend our money are about priorities, and Republicans aren't prioritizing you.
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Voting History568 total votesExpandCollapse
Voting History
568 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-21 | H.R. 186 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-16 | H.R. 30 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-16 | H.R. 30 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-01-15 | H.R. 33 (119th) | Final passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-15 | H.R. 144 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-15 | H.R. 164 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-14 | H.R. 28 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-14 | H.R. 28 (119th) | Send back to committee | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-01-14 | H.R. 153 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-14 | H.R. 152 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-13 | H.R. 192 (119th) | Fast-track passage | YES | YES | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-09 | H.R. 23 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-07 | H.R. 29 (119th) | Final passage | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-03 | H. Res. 5 (119th) | Approve resolution | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-03 | H. Res. 5 (119th) | Motion to Commit with Instructions | YES | YES | ✓ | Failed |
| 2025-01-03 | H. Res. 5 (119th) | End debate now | NO | NO | ✓ | Passed |
| 2025-01-03 | — | Election of the Speaker | NOT_VOTING | — | — | Johnson (LA) |
| 2025-01-03 | — | Call by States | PRESENT | — | — | 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.
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