CHILDREN TRAPPED IN TEXAS IMMIGRATION FACILITY RECOUNT NIGHTMARES, INEDIBLE FOOD, NO SCHOOL
Lawyers representing detainees argue that prolonged confinement in harsh conditions — coupled with repeated warnings about family separation — is meant to coerce parents into abandoning pending asylum claims that could allow them to remain in the U.S.
DHS tells detained families, “Well, if you want this to stop, agree to give up your case,” said Javier Hidalgo, legal director for RAICES, which provides legal support for immigrant families in Texas, including at Dilley. “We’ve heard that time and time again.”
Kelly Vargas said she and her husband felt that pressure from the moment they arrived at Dilley with their daughter, Maria.
The family came to the U.S. in 2022 after having fled Colombia and settled in New York, where they checked in regularly with immigration officials. They had applied for special visas for human trafficking victims, saying they were subjected to forced labor and death threats while they were traveling through Mexico …
