Veronica Escobar

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, is "rejoicing that this dark chapter is over" in response to reports that ICE is closing Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss Army Post in El Paso.

The Department of Homeland Security is taking steps to close the sprawling immigration detention camp, the Washington Post reports.

“While reports of its closure are cause for a sigh of relief, it does not mean an end to my determination to seek accountability, both for Acquisition Logistics and DHS," Escobar said in a statement. "It also does not mean the Trump administration will not continue to exploit El Paso for their immigration enforcement purposes - including with the administration’s purchase of warehouses in Socorro. Our community must remain vigilant and committed to the continued fight while rejoicing that this dark chapter is over."

The report comes from an internal document obtained by the post that was distributed to staff. It says DHS was looking to terminate the contract with Acquisition Logistics LLC, the Henrico, Virginia-based firm contracted with constructing and managing soft-sided detention center. The firm was given a $1.2 billion dollar contract to build and manage the site.

The report does not include a timeline for closure.

Escobar has regularly called for the closure of the detention center following her seven congressional oversight visits, raising concern with conditions. She has argued that the site represents fraud and waste

“The Trump administration has used El Paso as ground zero for its sick, twisted immigration enforcement policies for years, and Camp East Montana is no different," Escobar said in a statement. "It represents the epitome of fraud, waste, abuse, and the exploitation of human suffering at the hands of private prison corporations and the Trump administration … The $1.24 billion cost for this facility could have been used for healthcare, nutrition programs, and a litany of other things to improve our society and our country. Instead, it promoted the dehumanization of immigrants and lined the pockets of a corrupt, incompetent private prison corporation."

The closure follows a series of scandals at the detention center, including the death of Geraldo Lunas Campos on Jan. 3, who's death was ruled a homicide. He is one of three people held there who have died since it opened.

The El Paso Times reported nearly 90 emergency 911 calls coming from the center in the first 15 weeks of operation. The Washington Post reported multiple violations during construction and the American Civil Liberties Union reported acts of physical violence against detainees and attempts to force detainees to self-deport.

Other detainees held at the detention center have detailed to the El Paso Times the abuses they faced inside Camp East Montana before their deportations, echoing the interviews done by the ACLU.

The detention center is currently under quarantine following a measles outbreak.

El Paso has been the site of a massive increase in the detention of immigrants by the Trump administration.

Camp East Montana held over 3,100 people in January, and currently holds around 1,500 detainees. The DHS purchased another warehouse in Socorro, Texas, which is set to hold 8,500 people.