Documents and recordings obtained by @reason show more than 4,500 immigrant children are being held at a tent camp at Fort Bliss in Texas, where they lack such basic necessities as underwear reason.com/2021/05/24/sec… via @reason
Federal employees detailed to the Fort Bliss shelter, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reason they are working 12-hour shifts six days a week. Basic forms and equipment, including lice kits, are in short supply, and frustration is mounting.
"I've been into one dorm, one time, and I was like, yeah, I'm not going back there," the trainer says. "They're filthy. They're dirty. There's food on the floor. There's wet spots all over the place. The beds are dirty.
The trainer says there has also been inappropriate contact between staff & minors & between minors.
"We have already caught staff with minors inappropriately," the trainer says. "Is that OK with you guys? I hope not.”
"We have already caught staff with minors inappropriately," the trainer says. "Is that OK with you guys? I hope not.”
“We have also caught minors with minors, which is, you know—we've got teenagers in this shelter. What's happening with teenagers? Hormones, raging out of control. It's important that we maintain safety and vigilance. Be vigilant. Stop what is happening.
If you don't watch these kids, and you're not the one who is going to step in, who's going to? Be that person to stand up for the minors because that's what we're here for."
Children are also being ignored when they request medical care. "... we've got minors who are requesting medical due to not feeling well, and staff members are telling them there's nothing wrong with you, go back to your bed," the trainer says.
"These are legitimate complaints and it is my duty to let you know what is going on, because if you know who these people are, you need to report them."
The Biden administration is planning to expand the shelter to hold up to 10,000 minors. Because the shelter is inside a military base, it is not open to the public or press. Neither are any of the other emergency intake shelters. 
The photos in this story were snapped by a federal employee and passed to Reason despite an absolute prohibition on taking or sharing images imposed by camp officials.
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