More than 110 Democratic members of Congress have urged Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Wayne Mullin to close the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. The letter, first obtained by ABC News, cites allegations of severe conditions and prolonged detentions at the facility, which is the only center in the U.S. dedicated to detaining families with children.
According to the letter, former and current detainees have described conditions at the facility, operated by CoreCivic, as designed to be dehumanizing and foster hopelessness. Specific allegations include food contaminated with mold and worms, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate medical and educational care. These conditions have reportedly led to severe depression and suicidal ideation among children.
The lawmakers' letter also highlights concerns about the length of detentions, stating that families are held at Dilley beyond the 20-day limit stipulated by the Flores Settlement Agreement. Data from February and March 2026 indicated that the average stay for children was approximately 57 days, with a median of 44 days, and a significant number of children detained for over 61 days, including 80 held for more than 91 days.
"There is no humane way to imprison a child and their family. It is nothing more than a trailer prison that detains families," the Democrats wrote in their letter. "In fact, the Dilley facility is the only place in the United States dedicated to detaining families with children who have not been charged with a crime."
This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the Dilley center. Immigrant advocates, medical professionals, and lawmakers have previously voiced worries regarding conditions. In February, ABC News reported on a couple whose infant daughter contracted COVID-19 and RSV during a 60-day detention at Dilley, with allegations that her symptoms were dismissed by medical staff.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has disputed these claims. DHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sean Conley stated that allegations of denied medical care are false, asserting that detainees receive timely and appropriate medical services, including mental health and emergency care. Conley added that the healthcare provided is often better than what detainees may have access to outside of custody.
A DHS spokesperson also criticized the congressional letter, suggesting it overlooked a humanitarian crisis caused by past open border policies and the exploitation of children. The spokesperson highlighted efforts to rescue children subjected to trafficking and reunite them with families, attributing these issues in part to the Biden administration's policies.
In addition to demanding the closure of the Dilley facility, the Democrats' letter calls for the termination of the contract between DHS and CoreCivic, alleging that the private prison contractor prioritizes profits over the humane treatment of detainees. The lawmakers argue that U.S. immigration law provides sufficient frameworks for processing families without resorting to detention.