‘I Just Want to Get Out of Here’: ICE is Detaining Hundreds of Children
Since the Trump administration revived family detention in 2025, the number of children in federal custody has surged, with hundreds being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. Many of these children were previously enrolled in American schools for years before being detained during ICE check-ins or daily activities. Families and lawyers report poor conditions, including inadequate medical care, emotional distress such as suicidal ideation, and a lack of meaningful education, which is often reduced to an hour of basic worksheets daily. The nonprofit organization RAICES has been central to monitoring these conditions, providing legal services to families and reporting that, as of mid-January 2026, the facility held approximately 500 children and 450 parents. While the Department of Homeland Security maintains that detainees receive essential supplies and "generously funded" schooling, legal advocates argue the government is violating the 1997 Flores settlement by failing to provide age-appropriate instruction and basic care.
