US Rep. Veronica Escobar questions ICE over Fort Bliss migrant detention plans, conditions

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U.S. Rep Veronica Escobar questioned acting ICE director Todd Lyons during a House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security oversight hearing in Washington, D.C., over plans to expand ICE detention facilities and the dire conditions of the facilities.
"The increase in cost to taxpayers obviously hasn't translated into an increase in humane conditions, but I bet it has meant an increase in profit for these private companies," Escobar, D-El Paso, said during the hearing Wednesday, May 14. "How many total beds does the reconciliation package create?"
Lyon responded that they are looking to add 100,000 beds, but he said that the agency currently does not have the money. Congress has approved funding for 41,500 detention beds, but ICE is currently detaining 52,000 people.
But Lyons initially did not respond to Escobar's question, stating that ICE is focused with the committee and members of Congress that any increase in bed space would be done in a "proper and fiscal way." He blamed the need to use private prison companies, like Geo Group, on "sanctuary cities" and state legislation for needing to move immigrants around because of available bed space.
He also said that ICE is looking to add 3,500 beds at Fort Bliss in El Paso, which the Trump administration has stated it would like to use as a deportation hub since February. The office of the Secretary of the Army said in March that they had identified land where they will begin construction of the detention facility "soon."
Top Democrats have increasingly warned the Department of Homeland Security that the federal agency is running out of money. Sen. Chris Murphy warned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on May 8 that her agency would use its $65 million budget by July.
Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security, accused the ICE and the DHS of using funds it does not have.
'This administration is cashing checks it does not have to reach questionable goals it cannot meet,' Underwood said.
Lyons denied that the agency was running out of money.
The Trump administration is pushing to increase the DHS budget to $200 billion.
More: Amnesty International report finds disregard for human rights in El Paso ICE facility
Escobar condemned the conditions in the detention facilities. She joined Underwood in questioning Lyons about the conditions in the ICE facilities and the number of immigrants who have died while detained.
Lyon said that there have been nine deaths in ICE facilities, and promised to update the available information about the deaths.
ICE has arrested 88,000 people this year, Lyons told lawmakers. Two-thirds have been arrested since President Donald Trump assumed office on Jan. 20.
Lyons stressed that the administration focuses only on the "worst of the worst."
Escobar challenged this narrative, pointing out that many of those who have been arrested have no criminal record, are students with green cards, and that they are "being snatched off the streets by masked men and disappeared into detention facilities."
'What we've seen under the Trump administration should send chills down the spine of every American,' Escobar said. "The fact is that the administration is not focusing on the worst of the worst, as it claims… the focus has largely been on immigrants who are here both legally and those who are here illegally, but pose absolutely no threat to the public."
Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:[e-mail]; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US Rep. Escobar questions acting ICE director over detention conditions