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Contractors Cited After Worker Death at ICE Facility Site
Federal regulators cited contractors, including one linked to Donald Trump donor ties, for safety violations following a worker’s death at an ICE facility construction site in El Paso.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement's East Montana Detention Facility sit north of Montana Avenue near George Dieter Drive on Fort Bliss land, Aug. 18, 2025. (Cindy Ramirez / El Paso Matters)
Federal authorities have cited three subcontractors for safety breaches connected to the death of a construction worker at a large immigration detention facility project in El Paso, including a firm owned by a political donor to Donald Trump.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identified serious violations during its probe into the July 21, 2025, fatality of 38-year-old Hector Gonzalez, who was killed after being struck by falling materials while working on the construction of Camp East Montana at Fort Bliss.
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Details of the violations were outlined in a report released Monday by Public Citizen, which reviewed contractors involved in the development of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. Gonzalez’s death occurred shortly after the U.S. Army awarded a contract valued at up to $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics to construct and operate the facility.
The detention center opened within weeks and became the largest facility run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, holding more than 3,000 detainees at times. It has since faced criticism over alleged poor conditions, outbreaks of illness, and the deaths of three detainees in late 2025 and early 2026. A February inspection by ICE’s oversight office documented numerous violations of detention standards. Acquisition Logistics was subsequently replaced as the primary contractor by Amentum Services through a no-bid agreement.
OSHA did not issue penalties against Acquisition Logistics but cited three subcontractors Base International, JMJ Production Services, and Fulfillment Personnel Services for failing to comply with safety standards related to powered industrial equipment.
Base International, which employed Gonzalez, was cited for exposing workers to hazards involving unstable elevated loads handled by forklifts. The other two firms were also cited for similar risks, as well as for not ensuring that workers operating such machinery were properly trained and certified.
JMJ Production Services and Fulfillment Personnel Services each agreed to pay reduced fines of $15,000 as part of settlements reached in February. Base International is contesting its citation, which carries a proposed penalty of $11,585. If unresolved, the case will proceed to a hearing before an administrative law judge.
A spokesperson for Base International denied any wrongdoing and confirmed the company is appealing the findings. The company is owned by Florida businessman Nathan Albers, who has contributed to Republican political campaigns. He also leads Disaster Management Group, another federal contractor.
According to Public Citizen researcher Douglas Pasternak, the findings raise concerns about the allocation of taxpayer funds to projects linked to multiple deaths in a short period.
Representatives for JMJ Production Services declined to comment, while Fulfillment Personnel Services did not respond to inquiries.
Editor’s Note:
This report highlights ongoing concerns about workplace safety oversight and accountability in large federally funded construction projects, particularly those involving immigration detention infrastructure.
