Fort Bliss in Texas Now Home to the Largest Migrant Detention Camp in the World

By now, folks all over the world may be tired of hearing the saying "everything's bigger in Texas". But it's not just a fancy moniker we gave ourselves. It's true. The federal government unveiled plans to construct a facility in Texas that is set to become the largest immigration detention center in U.S. history, a 5,000-bed tent camp at Fort Bliss, an Army base in El Paso, Texas

The U.S. Department of Defense has committed a total of $1.26 billion to the project, with an initial disbursement of $232 million awarded to Acquisition Logistics LLC to build and operate the facility in the Lone Star State.

Construction is expected to continue through September 2027.

According to Pentagon officials, the facility will initially accommodate 1,000 migrants by mid-August 2025, with planned expansion to full 5,000-bed capacity in the following weeks or months.

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What to Keep an Eye On

• Timeline: First detainees expected to arrive mid-August 2025; full 5,000-bed expansion by late 2025 through 2027.
• Conditions: The canvas-tent environment raises concerns over heat, hygiene, access to legal aid, and overall detainee welfare.
• Oversight: Acquisition Logistics LLC, awarded the contract, lacks experience in running detention facilities, prompting questions about preparedness and accountability

This isn’t just another detention camp, it’s going to be the most ambitious and largest‐ever in the U.S. The project ties into broader federal efforts to scale up immigration enforcement, using military structures and hefty funding to manage record numbers of detainees

READ MORE: The Funny Smells of Texas

The stakes are high, and this Texas facility will likely become a focal point in debates over immigration policy, human rights, and the role of the military in domestic enforcement.