On August 17, 2025, the landscape of U.S. immigration enforcement is set for a dramatic shift as Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, opens the largest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in the country. Nicknamed “Lonestar Lockup” by Texas Senator John Cornyn, the new center is poised to receive hundreds of detainees on its first day, with an initial capacity of 1,000 and plans to expand to a staggering 5,000. This development, coupled with sweeping new changes to family-based immigration processes from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), signals a pivotal moment in American immigration policy—one marked by heightened scrutiny, controversy, and a growing climate of uncertainty for immigrant families.
The opening of the Fort Bliss site follows months of delays and complications, including failed contracts, a bid protest, and a tragic workplace accident. According to The New York Times, the process to establish the facility began with the Trump administration’s push to expand detention capacity, a move that’s seen the number of people held in immigrant detention centers nationwide soar to over 60,000—breaking the previous record of 55,654 set in August 2019. The “Lonestar Lockup” is just the latest in a series of rapidly constructed detention camps, joining Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Indiana’s “Speedway Slammer,” both of which have drawn heavy criticism for their rushed construction and questionable living conditions.
But the Fort Bliss project, with its $231.9 million contract awarded in July 2025 to Acquisition Logistics LLC, has been especially fraught. NBC News reports that the facility’s construction was delayed by a failed contract process, followed by a sealed bid protest from Gemini Tech Services LLC., which sought to halt the project. The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent agency that audits and investigates government operations, is currently conducting two investigations into possible improper bidding related to the project. These inquiries come on the heels of a workplace tragedy in July, when Hector Gonzalez, a 38-year-old employee with a subcontracted company, died in an accident on site. The incident is under investigation by both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division. "Hector was a beloved husband, father, son, brother and co-worker and he will be greatly missed. Our support and prayers are with his entire family," a spokesperson for Disaster Management Group told NBC News.
Despite these setbacks and ongoing investigations, Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson was unequivocal about the facility’s purpose, stating, "Upon completion, this will be the largest federal detention center in history for this critical mission - the deportation of illegal aliens." ICE, for its part, has emphasized that the Fort Bliss facility will adhere to the agency’s detention standards, providing access to legal representation, visitation rights, recreation space, medical treatment, balanced meals, and necessary accommodations. The center is designed to serve as both a detention and processing hub, intended to streamline the removal process for those facing deportation.
This expansion in detention capacity comes at a time when USCIS has also tightened the rules governing family-based immigration, particularly for marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. As of August 1, 2025, the agency updated its policy manual to impose stricter scrutiny on these visa petitions. According to the official statement, the move is meant to "strengthen the agency’s faculty to recognize legitimate petitions and filter out those that are considered false, frivolous or not genuine." The changes are sweeping, affecting both new and pending cases immediately, and there is no transition period for those caught in the middle.
Under the new rules, applicants must submit Form I-130, but the form’s approval no longer confers automatic legal status. In fact, in some instances, the process may result in a Notice to Appear, potentially launching deportation proceedings even for those with approved petitions. Interviews are now more complex and in-depth, with applicants required to provide detailed documentation to prove the authenticity of their relationships. This, according to immigration advocates, could exacerbate the already severe backlog in immigration processing.
The policy update is especially consequential for Latino couples, many of whom have relied on family-based petitions as a path to legal residency and eventual citizenship. Those with irregular status or who are just beginning their immigration journey face the greatest hurdles. The new guidelines demand greater documentation, subject applicants to more rigorous interviews, and open the door for cases to be referred to other government agencies for deeper investigation. If adjustment of status within the U.S. is not possible, approved petitions are now sent to the National Visa Center, further complicating the pathway to legal residency.
For many in the Latin American community, these changes have sparked concern and anxiety. The prospect of facing deportation proceedings even after a petition is approved is a daunting one. As one immigration attorney explained to The Independent, "The evaluation will be much harder, and each case will be carefully studied to check the authenticity of the marriage." The fear is that legitimate families could be swept up in the dragnet, facing delays, denials, or even removal from the country.
Meanwhile, the government’s growing reliance on large-scale detention facilities has drawn fire from lawmakers and advocacy groups. Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” and Indiana’s “Speedway Slammer” have both been criticized for failing to meet the stringent requirements of an ICE facility and for what some see as inhumane conditions. Detainees and local residents alike have voiced concerns about the speed of construction and the adequacy of services provided. Democratic lawmakers and immigration advocates have repeatedly warned that the administration’s mass deportation agenda risks violating the rights and well-being of those caught in the system.
ICE maintains that its new facilities, including Fort Bliss, are designed to meet high standards of care. In a statement, the agency said the El Paso center will provide "access to legal representation, visitation, recreation space, and medical treatment space," as well as "balanced meals and necessary accommodations." Still, the sheer size and rapid rollout of these centers have left many skeptical about the government’s ability to ensure humane treatment and fair process for all detainees.
As the “Lonestar Lockup” opens its doors, the nation’s approach to immigration is under more scrutiny than ever. The combination of stricter family-based visa policies and an unprecedented expansion in detention capacity reflects an era of heightened enforcement and deepening divisions over how the U.S. should handle those who seek to make it their home. For immigrant families, advocates, and officials alike, the coming months will be a test of both policy and principle as the country grapples with the consequences of these sweeping changes.
In the midst of shifting policies and expanding detention infrastructure, the real impact will be felt by the thousands of families who find themselves navigating a system in flux—hoping for a fair hearing, humane treatment, and, above all, a chance to build a future in the United States.
