Nearly 600 immigrant children were held in a Texas family detention center in recent months without enough food, medical care, or mental health services, with dozens languishing inside far beyond court-mandated limits, according to court documents filed Friday.
Children and families at the Dilley detention facility, where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were sent earlier this year, faced virus outbreaks and extensive lockdowns in December and January, even as the total number of children held at Dilley has decreased recently.
The case of Ramos, who was wearing a blue bunny hat when apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, sparked protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies, leading detainees to gather and display signs within the facility.
As of last week, about 85 children remained detained at Dilley. However, reports from attorney Mishan Wroe indicate that concerning conditions persist. A legal advocate noted that approximately 280 children were observed in early February.
Among the heartbreaking cases, a 13-year-old girl was reported to have attempted suicide after being denied her prescribed antidepressants and access to her mother. The government claimed there had been no placements on suicide watch. Documentation obtained by the Associated Press details a suicide attempt by cutting of wrist and incidents of self-harm.
These filings were submitted in a longstanding lawsuit initiated in 1985 that resulted in the Flores settlement, which established court oversight of detention standards and a 20-day limit on custody. The Trump administration aims to terminate this settlement.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the Flores consent decree as a tool misused by the left, asserting that detention is a choice.
Attorneys representing the detainees highlighted government data indicating extended custody lengths, as well as reports of worms in food and inadequate medical care and legal support.
The continued distress at Dilley was characterized by Leecia Welch, chief legal director at Children’s Rights, who stated, Dilley remains a hellhole. Although the number of children has decreased, the suffering remains the same. The facility, built for families, is supposed to provide essential needs, including sufficient food and water, while the Trump administration aims to accelerate deportations.
Reports reveal that around 595 immigrant children were held beyond the 20-day limit in December and January, with some detained for months. The records indicated that 265 children endured custody for more than 50 days, while 55 children were held for over 100 days. This represents an increase from earlier government disclosures that reported 400 children held beyond the time limit between August and September.
Chief U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee is set to address the case in a hearing later this month.
