Kids' Letters Expose Life Inside Dilley ICE Detention Center

Handwritten letters and drawings from children detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas reveal a stark picture of life behind barbed wire.

Children at Dilley Detention Center Speak Out

In early February the facility housed more than 750 families, nearly half with children, and about 370 single adult women. Dilley is the only U.S. Immigration center that holds families together.

ProPublica obtained a collection of letters in mid‑January from several young detainees, most of whom had been living in the United States before their detention. The children describe missing school, friends, and basic comforts while coping with limited medical care and uncertain futures.

Did You Know? Since the start of the Trump administration, the number of children in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention has risen sixfold.

Conditions Reported by the Children

One 9‑year‑old from Venezuela, detained for 50 days, wrote, “I miss my school and my friends… I feel bad because I have been here too long.” A 14‑year‑old from Honduras, held for 45 days, said, “Since I got to this Center all you will feel is sadness and mostly depression.” Others mention repetitive meals, cramped sleeping arrangements, and long waits for medical attention.

Several letters also note that children are denied regular schooling and are forced to share rooms with multiple families, leading to feelings of boredom and isolation.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter, senior immigration reporter, notes that the children’s accounts underscore a systemic gap between ICE’s stated policies and on‑the‑ground realities. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asserts that detainees receive “proper medical care” and access to “teachers, classrooms, and curriculum booklets,” the letters suggest that those provisions are either insufficient or inconsistently applied, raising concerns about compliance with legal standards for the care of minors.

Official Response

DHS, which oversees ICE, released a statement saying all detainees at Dilley are provided with three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries, and that certified dietitians evaluate meals. The agency also claims children have access to teachers and educational materials. Parents are given the option to have their families deported together or to place children with another caregiver.

CoreCivic, the private contractor operating the facility, said it is subject to multiple layers of oversight and that health and safety are top priorities.

Broader Context

Nationwide, ICE operates many immigration centres, but Dilley remains the only one that detains families together. The dramatic rise in child detention since 2017 has drawn criticism from human‑rights groups and prompted calls for policy reform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the letters from children at Dilley reveal?

The letters describe feelings of sadness, depression, and isolation, as well as concerns about limited medical care, repetitive meals, lack of schooling, and cramped living conditions.

How many families and children are detained at Dilley?

In early February the center held more than 750 families, with nearly half including children, along with about 370 single adult women.

What is the Department of Homeland Security’s stance on the conditions at Dilley?

DHS states that detainees receive proper medical care, three meals a day, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, and access to teachers and curriculum booklets for math, reading, and spelling.

What do you think should be done to address the concerns raised by these young detainees?

Kids’ Letters Expose Life Inside Dilley ICE Detention Center