Garrison Commander Colonel Michael Soyka of Fort Bliss

Ms. Kristi Noem, Director of Homeland Security

Mr. Todd Lyons, Director of I.C.E 

Dear Colonel Soyka, Ms. Noem and Mr. Lyons, 

We, the people of the city and county of El Paso, believe that everyone within our county deserves their constitutional rights and to be treated with dignity.  We embrace the Resolution passed by the County Commissioners of El Paso on August 11, 2025.

We denounce the use of El Paso’s military installations for mass civil detention of migrants, particularly under opaque private contracts that circumvent basic standards of transparency, public input, and oversight. We demand the immediate disclosure from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Fort Bliss regarding operational plans, contractor roles, and detainee treatment protocols at Camp East Montana.

We request urgent clarification on hiring and staffing plans for the facility, including vetting and training procedures, and calls for assurances that local law enforcement and jail personnel will not be recruited or diverted.

We call for access to Camp East Montana for local elected officials legal advocates, and human rights organizations to monitor conditions and ensure compliance with constitutional and humanitarian standards.

We request a formal briefing from ICE, DHS, and Fort Bliss leadership within 30 days to address these concerns directly with the Commissioners Court and the community.

We affirm El Paso County’s position that the expansion of mass detention without accountability, access to due process, or congressional oversight—is incompatible with our community’s values and constitutional obligations.

We reaffirm the County’s commitment to civil rights, human dignity, and public accountability in all federal operations within its jurisdiction.

We ask that all people who come to Camp East Montana must have been presented a warrant from a judge and must come before a judge to determine their status before deportation.  Due process is for everyone. 

We ask that the Army, who answers to the Commander-in-Chief, put their sworn oath to the Constitution above the Commander-in-Chief’s orders, if those orders are unlawful, according to the Universal Code of Military Justice. Denying due process violates the Constitution.

Signed,

Concerned Citizens of El Paso County