Texas ICE Guards Bet on Which Detainees Would Take Their Life Amid Horrific Facility Conditions

Thousands of people remain detained across ICE facilities throughout the United States, among them individuals who say they were held without warrants. Advocates and former detainees say the conditions inside many of those facilities are causing serious physical and psychological harm. And new evidence suggests the situation at the country's largest detention centre may be far worse than previously known.

The majority of ICE facilities across the country have come under scrutiny for their living conditions, with some detainees reportedly driven to consider taking their own lives out of fear they would never be freed.

Horrific Living Conditions

A TikTok video uploaded by Aaron Parnas detailed the challenges faced by detainees, particularly at Camp East Montana—the largest ICE detention facility in the United States, located at Fort Bliss near El Paso, Texas. Parnas relayed claims from individuals he described as insiders at the facility, alleging that some detainees had been assaulted by other detainees, while others had experienced severe back pain and contracted COVID-19 while pregnant.

Those accounts are independently supported by an Associated Press review of 130 emergency calls made from the facility between its opening in August 2025 and January 2026, nearly one 911 call per day. The calls document suicide attempts, seizures causing head injuries, assaults between detainees, and at least one pregnant woman in severe pain who had received no prenatal care. The AP also confirmed that toilets and bathrooms at the facility are filthy, food is insufficient, and persistent conflict between detainees has affected the mental health of those held there.

Bets Placed on Detainees Struggling With Mental Health

The living conditions at Camp East Montana have become so dire that security staff allegedly began placing bets on which detainee would take their own life next. Parnas relayed claims from insiders that guards contributed approximately £375 ($500) each to a pool, with the total pot dependent on when the next detainee died by suicide.

This allegation is corroborated by Owen Ramsingh, a former detainee from Columbia, Missouri, who was deported to the Netherlands in February 2026. Ramsingh told the AP he overheard a security guard discussing the bets directly. 'He basically said, you know, you're betting against me committing suicide,' Ramsingh said, adding that the remark was particularly disturbing because he had himself contemplated suicide while detained. He described the facility as 'worse than a prison.'

A DHS spokesperson has stated that detainees receive adequate food, water, and medical care in a facility that is routinely cleaned. Parnas urged Americans to spread awareness of the situation, describing it as a serious matter requiring urgent public attention.

Former Detainees Shared Their Horrific Experiences

Last year, seven detained individuals shared their experiences living in ICE facilities. Fernando Viera, who is battling prostate cancer, said his primary concern following his detention was the lack of medical care he received. Held at a facility in California, Viera said he was in severe pain and had blood in his urine and stool. He required a biopsy to determine the cause, but said ICE staff failed to provide appropriate treatment.

Fernando Gomez Ruiz, another former detainee, said he was denied insulin while in custody, causing elevated blood sugar levels that he said put his life at risk. Other detainees have also reported being denied sign language interpreters and wheelchairs despite documented need.

Conditions Detainees Can Expect

According to the Nolo legal encyclopaedia, detainees in ICE facilities are typically required to wear jumpsuits and sleep in large communal rooms with limited privacy. Food is rationed, and detainees who leave the room during mealtimes, including to receive visitors, may not receive their meal on return. Personal belongings are confiscated upon entry, interactions with staff are limited, and phone calls, where permitted, are costly, leaving many families without information about their detained relatives until after their release.