Dilley Detention Center Sees Dramatic Drop in Family Detentions Amidst Public Outcry

The number of families detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas has plummeted in recent months, declining by more than 75% from February to mid-March 2026, according to data obtained by ProPublica. This significant decrease follows a surge in public pressure sparked by the release of letters and artwork from children held within the facility.

A Steep Decline in Detentions

Between April 2025 and January 2026, the Dilley facility averaged around 600 family detentions per month. However, February saw a sharp drop to 133 detentions, and by mid-March, that number fell further to just 54 ProPublica.

Public Pressure and Advocacy

The decline in detentions coincides with increased scrutiny of the facility’s conditions and the impact of detention on children. The publication of letters written by detained children, detailing their despair and the trauma of separation, ignited public outrage. These letters were raised in congressional hearings and featured in anti-ICE demonstrations. Representative James Walkinshaw (D-VA) read excerpts from a 5-year-old Venezuelan girl’s drawing during a congressional hearing, highlighting the emotional toll on children ProPublica.

Viral Images and High-Profile Support

The case of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who went viral in January 2026 after a photograph of him wearing a bunny hat at the facility circulated widely, also drew significant attention to the situation at Dilley. Detainees organized a protest, and nearly 4,000 doctors, nurses, and health professionals sent a letter to the Trump administration demanding the release of all children in immigration detention. Social media personality Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, further amplified the issue by sharing a conversation with a detained child to her 4.9 million Instagram followers ProPublica.

Government Response and Restrictions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that custody decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not influenced by public opinion, asserting adherence to the rule of law. However, following the protests and increased attention, guards at Dilley reportedly took away crayons, colored pencils, and drawing paper during room searches, and access to video calls in common areas was restricted ProPublica. DHS justified the video call restrictions by citing the unauthorized dissemination of law enforcement sensitive information through livestreamed calls.

Legal and Historical Context

The Dilley facility initially opened under the Obama administration in 2014. While President Biden halted family detentions in 2021, President Trump resumed them upon taking office again. The facility operates under the Flores agreement, which generally limits child detention to 20 days, though data shows the average stay at Dilley has exceeded 50 days since family detentions resumed ProPublica. DHS has argued that the Flores agreement is outdated and should be terminated.

Individual Cases and Release

One Egyptian family had been detained at Dilley for nine months as of March 2026, while awaiting investigation into the father’s alleged involvement in an antisemitic attack. A 13-year-old Guatemalan boy, Edison, was released with his mother after 92 days of detention, describing the experience as feeling like he was being treated like a criminal ProPublica.

Ongoing Concerns

Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) expressed relief at the declining numbers, stating, “That trailer prison is no place for children.” While CoreCivic, the private prison company operating Dilley, maintains that the health and safety of detainees is its top priority, concerns remain about the conditions and impact of detention on families ProPublica.

Recent reports indicate a measles outbreak at the Dilley facility prompted a lockdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Yahoo News.