Democrats Urge DHS to Close Dilley Immigration Detention Center
Tyunews.com – Over 110 U.S. Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, have submitted a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, calling for the permanent closure of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. The facility, the sole family detention center in the nation, was temporarily shut down during the Biden administration but reopened under the Trump administration as part of its stricter immigration policies.
Conditions in Dilley Under Scrutiny
The letter, obtained by ABC News, highlights the facility’s inhumane treatment of children and families. It states, “There is no humane way to imprison a child and their family. It is nothing more than a trailer prison that detains families.” The document emphasizes that Dilley is the only site in the U.S. specifically designed to hold families with children who have not been charged with crimes.
“Former and current detained families describe horrific conditions perpetuated by CoreCivic and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that are meant to strip them of their dignity and make them feel hopeless.”
Advocates detail accounts of severe mistreatment, including allegations of food contaminated with worms and mold, drinking water causing illness, and constant nighttime lighting. Parents also report inadequate access to education and medical care, which has led to “severe depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among their children.”
The letter cites an incident where a young boy with persistent stomach pain was not taken to the hospital for several days before being diagnosed with appendicitis and requiring surgery. This, according to the document, exemplifies the delays and dismissals of critical medical attention. Earlier in February, ABC News interviewed a family who claimed their 1-year-old daughter contracted COVID-19 and RSV during a 60-day stay at the center, with medical staff allegedly ignoring her symptoms.
Rep. Castro shared his own concerns about a 2-month-old child he encountered during a visit to another family at the facility. Meanwhile, the top medical official at DHS, Dr. Sean Conley, contested claims of poor care. “These allegations of illegal aliens being denied proper medical care in ICE custody are FALSE,” he stated. “Aliens receive timely and appropriate medical care from the moment they enter ICE custody, including 24-hour emergency services.”
“This is better, more responsive health care than many aliens have ever received in their entire lives,” Conley added.
DHS spokespersons have criticized Democrats for not addressing the humanitarian crisis linked to the Biden administration’s open border policies. “These representatives remain silent about the crisis manufactured by the Biden Administration’s policies over the last four years and the children exploited, trafficked, and missing,” the statement said. “Do they plan to mention the psychiatric impact on tens of thousands of children smuggled across the border—many by human and sex traffickers?”
Origami Cranes Symbolize Concerns
A photograph from June 27, 2026, shows origami cranes pinned on fencing at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, drawing attention to the emotional toll of detention. Advocates continue to press for improved conditions and accountability, citing ongoing reports of prolonged custody and systemic neglect.
