Controversial Contract Awarded for New ICE Detention Camp

The U.S. Department of Defense announced a significant contract for the construction of a migrant detention camp at the Fort Bliss military base near El Paso, Texas. The facility will support the ongoing deportation strategies of the Trump administration and is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 individuals. Among the subcontractors involved in this project is the Disaster Management Group, owned by Nathan Albers, a figure with a controversial past related to hiring undocumented workers.

In 2019, Albers was part of a company, TentLogix, that pleaded guilty to federal immigration violations, specifically for employing undocumented workers and attempting to hide them from authorities. According to sources familiar with the contract, Disaster Management Group is set to receive a significant portion of the more than $1.2 billion allocated for the Fort Bliss facility. Scott Shuchart, a former official with the Department of Homeland Security, expressed concern about the irony of a company that has been involved in illegal labor practices now being awarded a contract from ICE: “The idea that you could use illegal labor and then sell services to ICE, the irony is thick.”

Disaster Management Group has responded to inquiries by stating that Albers and the company were cleared of any wrongdoing related to the investigation into TentLogix. The spokesperson noted that Albers distanced himself from TentLogix upon discovering illegal actions by the co-founder. Despite the controversies, the White House, as well as the DOD and ICE, declined to comment further on the situation.

The prime contractor for the Fort Bliss project is Virginia-based Acquisition Logistics, with Amentum, a major engineering and technology firm, also slated to join as a subcontractor. Both companies did not provide comments regarding their roles in the construction of the facility.

Disaster Management Group has specialized in building temporary structures and has garnered over $500 million in government contracts since 2020, primarily for housing Afghan refugees. However, in a recent investigation, the Department of Labor found that the company and its subcontractors violated federal labor laws, resulting in $16 million in recovered wages for workers. A compliance agreement was signed to prevent future violations, but the company did not address these issues in its responses.

Albers’ connections to TentLogix do not legally bar him or his current company from securing federal contracts. Scott Amey, general counsel at the Project On Government Oversight, explained that while TentLogix reported its conviction for immigration law violations, Albers and his other businesses are considered separate legal entities. Although federal contractors must certify their adherence to business ethics, many issues may not be reported or may escape scrutiny.

The ties between TentLogix and Disaster Management are significant. Albers was one of the directors at TentLogix when it was convicted, and he co-founded Disaster Management with Gary Hendry, who also faced legal issues related to the undocumented workers. When TentLogix was raided by immigration authorities in 2018, both companies shared an address. During the raid, officials found evidence of the illegal employment practices that led to the company’s conviction.

In light of this new contract, Albers has seen substantial financial gains, including the purchase of a $30 million home in Jupiter, Florida, making it one of the most expensive properties in the area. His political contributions have also increased, with over $150,000 given to Republican campaigns in the past year alone. Albers has been associated with high-profile events at Mar-a-Lago and has engaged in lobbying efforts on immigration-related issues, spending $210,000 since late last year.

The Fort Bliss detention camp is expected to be a part of a broader initiative, as immigration arrests have surged, and ICE faces challenges in accommodating detainees. The Trump administration has increasingly relied on contractors for temporary facilities, often called soft-sided structures, which can be set up more quickly than traditional brick-and-mortar facilities.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with immigration policies, the implications of awarding contracts to individuals with checkered pasts raises questions about oversight and accountability in government contracting. The Fort Bliss facility may represent the first of several such projects, with recent spending bills allocating $45 billion for new migrant detention sites, potentially doubling the country’s immigration detention capacity from around 50,000 to over 100,000 individuals.