Rep. Joaquin Castro has made seven visits to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, located southwest of his San Antonio district, since the facility reopened under the Trump administration last year. Throughout these visits, he has met with immigrants who have gained national attention, such as teenage mariachi-performing brothers and five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained wearing a bunny hat and a Spiderman backpack.
However, Castro has also encountered numerous detainees whose stories have profoundly affected him, despite receiving little media coverage. He recalls four pregnant women he met earlier this year who were no longer there upon his next visit, either deported or released. His thoughts often turn to Venezuelan migrants he spoke with, especially after the recent earthquakes that devastated Caracas, as he wonders about the fates of their families while they remain incarcerated. He also met a two-month-old infant who had spent nearly half of his life in Dilley, the only facility in the country that detains immigrant parents with their children.
As Castro walks among the rows of trailers housing immigrants, he notes, “People will come up, and they’ll tell us their stories. You have kids that are really stone-faced — that’s their way of coping. Then there are kids who are very emotional, crying. People often break down while speaking with us.”
The Dilley facility reopened shortly after President Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office, directing the government to utilize all “legally available resources” to expand immigration detention centers. Since then, the number of undocumented immigrants detained has risen significantly. Last month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported an average daily population of 65,000 in their facilities, a significant increase from approximately 37,000 two years earlier during the Biden administration.
As the number of detainees has surged, so have reports of deaths in custody and allegations of neglect, mistreatment, and inhumane conditions within these facilities.
Access to ICE detention centers is tightly controlled, limited mainly to agency officials, staff from private prison companies that operate most facilities, and a select group including members of Congress, medical providers, legal representatives, family during restricted hours, consular officials, and clergy.
Many Democrats in Texas’ congressional delegation have visited at least one detention facility, with some, including Castro, bringing colleagues from other states. In the 2025 fiscal year, congressional members conducted over 160 oversight visits, a significant increase compared to their activities during Trump’s first term.
The limited access for outsiders adds weight to these visits, providing one of the few glimpses into the conditions inside federal detention facilities. Many detainees view congressional visits as an opportunity to have their cases heard.
Despite claims from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials that detainees receive quality care while in ICE custody, Texas Democrats who have visited the facilities express deep concern about what they witnessed. Castro and El Paso Rep. Veronica Escobar, who frequently visits ICE lockups, have both recounted instances of medical neglect and detainees reporting inadequate food quality. They also described interactions with federal officials who seemed reluctant to be transparent about the management of detention centers and resistant to holding private operators accountable.
Escobar has visited Camp East Montana, a large tent facility on Fort Bliss in her district, ten times since its opening a year ago. This facility currently houses more immigrants daily than any other in the country and has been found to violate numerous federal detention standards, according to a recent federal inspection report. Another federal report published in June identified “serious gaps in medical services” at the facility, a reality Escobar claims to have observed firsthand, witnessing both physical and mental strain among detainees.
She recounted a conversation with a detainee who suffered persistent pain in his forearm after an injury during his arrest in Minnesota. Despite pleading for medical care for weeks, he received nothing but aspirin and an arm brace. When she asked to see his arm, she noted that it had not been properly set or cast.
In response to Escobar’s recounting of the situation, DHS stated that the detainee was arrested shortly after Christmas and claimed he had a pre-existing wrist fracture. The agency confirmed that he was prescribed pain medication while in ICE custody but did not provide details on further medical treatment.
DHS has also refuted other claims regarding poor conditions, asserting that detainees receive three meals a day, clean water, clothing, and bedding. The agency contends that detainees receive comprehensive medical care upon entering ICE custody, arguing that the facilities offer better medical services than many immigrants received prior to detention.
Both Castro and Escobar have dedicated months to sharing detainee experiences and information that contradict the official narrative. They have reported that many detainees complain of inadequate medical treatment, with some receiving only aspirin for serious health issues.
<p“The medical care is probably the biggest complaint and concern,” Castro explained. “Each time we visit, people approach us saying, ‘I’m supposed to be taking medication, but I haven’t received it on time’ or ‘I haven’t been able to take it when I’m supposed to.’ At Dilley, a teenager with appendicitis went hours without being seen. Medical care is often delayed or outright denied.”
In response to allegations regarding conditions at Dilley, DHS dismissed them as a “hoax” and criticized media coverage of the issue. The agency stated that Dilley meets federal detention standards and undergoes regular audits and inspections.
Castro has called for the closure of the Dilley facility, while Escobar has made similar demands regarding Camp East Montana, both expressing their deep concerns over the conditions they have witnessed during their visits.
“I see my role as ensuring that we fulfill our obligation to treat individuals humanely and prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted,” Escobar stated. “However, what I’ve observed is that those on the ground seem indifferent, and conditions have worsened over time.”
Escobar’s position on the House committee overseeing government spending gives her a say in how ICE allocates its resources. Castro, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere panel, is involved in shaping U.S. policy toward Latin America. Both represent communities with significant immigrant populations and have long opposed Trump’s immigration policies.
They have both noted an increase in difficulty obtaining information during Trump’s second term, with some facilities proving more accessible than others. As Democrats hold a minority position, they cannot compel witness testimony or initiate special investigations.
<p“It’s much more secretive now,” Castro remarked. “ICE and the administration feel less compelled to explain their actions, even to members of Congress with oversight authority.”
ICE operates over 150 detention facilities nationwide, ranging from county jails to large detention complexes, with Texas hosting 26 of these sites—the highest number in the country. As of early July, the state’s detainee population stood at 16,450, with approximately 24 percent having at least one criminal conviction.
Both Castro and Escobar navigate decisions about when to advocate behind the scenes and when to publicly exert pressure based on the information or policy changes they seek.
Castro mentioned working on cases that never reach his social media channels, often after discussions with detainees’ lawyers and ICE officials indicated that his involvement would be more beneficial if he remained low-key.
Escobar has focused on highlighting the conditions faced by detainees, both publicly and privately. “I’ve tried to influence those on the ground by pointing out specific issues,” she said. “For instance, this person has not received their insulin in weeks, or these shampoo packets are being used to wash clothes because nobody is laundering them. Or look at this group of women who have been detained for three weeks without a phone call to their lawyers.”
Castro noted that federal authorities have become more guarded in recent months, particularly following the departure of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and the confirmation of Markwayne Mullin as the new agency head. He expressed frustration that his access to detainees has been restricted under the new leadership.
Previously, facility staff would post a sign-up sheet for detainees wishing to meet with visiting Congress members. During his visits, Castro sometimes saw up to 300 individuals sign up to speak with him. Now, he must submit requests in advance to meet specific detainees.
ICE has cited these changes in a May memo, stating they were necessary due to the increasing disruptions and resource demands posed by member visits.
A DHS spokesperson emphasized that while the frequency of congressional visits has been taxing, any member of Congress can still request to speak with a detainee in ICE custody. The agency facilitates these meetings when both parties agree.
<p“In Fiscal Year 2025, we supported more congressional facility visits than any year under the Biden-Harris administration,” the spokesperson added. “These requests must be part of legitimate congressional oversight activities, and too often, they are just for media engagement. Without proper support, such visits jeopardize the safety of ICE personnel, detainees, and members of Congress.”
Should Democrats regain a majority in the upcoming midterms, they could gain more oversight powers, including the ability to hold hearings, set agendas, and compel testimonies from administration officials. This shift could lead to formal investigations into the treatment of detainees and the awarding of contracts for running detention facilities.
If his party reg
