Democrats Denounce ICE Detention Practices as Over 100 Lawmakers Call for Texas Facility Closure

A group of Democratic House members visited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dilley, Texas on Tuesday to protest what they characterize as inhumane detention practices. Rep. Luz Rivas of California, whose district has experienced significant ICE enforcement activity, drew comparisons between agency operations and domestic terrorism during remarks made in Spanish at a subsequent press conference.

The delegation, organized by Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, included more than 100 House Democrats who have formally demanded the closure of the Dilley facility. Lawmakers alleged that the center holds families in unacceptable conditions, including infants as young as 2 months old, and provided detailed accounts of alleged problems including contaminated food, inadequate medical care, and sleep deprivation caused by constant lighting.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, a prominent member of the progressive caucus, escalated her criticism of the Trump administration, calling for the abolition of ICE entirely. Pressley further advocated for federal accountability measures, including the removal of qualified immunity protections for immigration enforcement officers involved in incidents resulting in harm or fatalities.

The Department of Homeland Security responded by defending the facility as purpose-built to house families with access to educational materials, recreational activities, and specialized infant care supplies. DHS disputed Democratic characterizations of conditions at the center, asserting that accommodations meet safety and medical standards funded by taxpayers.