Several House Democrats have drawn sharp criticism towards Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with one lawmaker comparing the agency's actions to "domestic terrorists" following a visit to a detention facility in Dilley, Texas. The visit, led by Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, also prompted over 100 House Democrats to demand the closure of the facility.
Rep. Luz Rivas, D-Calif., speaking in Spanish at a press conference, stated that witnessing ICE's operations was personal due to her background as the daughter of Mexican immigrants. "For the people of the United States, we don't want to see our government, or ICE officials, acting like domestic terrorists," Rivas said, noting that her district had experienced more ICE raids than any other in her county.
During the visit, lawmakers accused the Trump administration of housing families, including infants as young as two months old, in inhumane conditions. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a member of the progressive "Squad," referred to the current administration as "fascist" and "a dictator in the Oval Office," urging public resistance. Pressley also called for the abolition of ICE and the removal of qualified immunity for federal law enforcement officers, stating that agents responsible for harm or fatalities should be held accountable.
In a letter dispatched earlier this month, 111 House Democrats detailed allegations of dire conditions at the Dilley detention center. The letter described parents reporting severe depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation among their children. Children allegedly complained of contaminated food, including worms and mold, and sickness from drinking tap water. Families also reported constant light disturbances preventing sleep, and delays or denials of medical care from facility staff, even in life-threatening emergencies.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has previously refuted claims of substandard conditions at Dilley, asserting that the facility is specifically equipped for families and children. DHS stated that children have access to educational resources, age-appropriate activities, and essential supplies. The department also affirmed that adults with children are housed in facilities that provide for their safety, security, and medical needs, with taxpayer funding supporting these provisions.
Earlier at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., questioned parental responses to a child's critical condition and advocated for the abolition of ICE and the dismantling of DHS, citing concerns about inhumane conditions.
Republican allies of President Trump have accused Democrats of using inflammatory rhetoric that contributes to rising tensions and encourages resistance against ICE agents. They have drawn connections between this rhetoric and a series of violent incidents involving federal immigration officers this year.