Advocates caravan to protest conditions at Dilley detention center

Chriselda Vera and the Blue Bunny Brigade lead a caravan from the Rio Grande Valley to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley

Apr. 19, 2026 at 11:49am

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A serene, painterly scene of a lone protest sign or banner standing on a small-town Texas street, bathed in warm, golden sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of solitary determination and the enduring spirit of grassroots activism.The Blue Bunny Brigade's quiet act of defiance against the Dilley detention center echoes a long history of grassroots activism in the Rio Grande Valley.Brownsville Today

Chriselda Vera, a mother from Edinburg, Texas, formed the Blue Bunny Brigade to protest the detention of migrants at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. On Saturday morning, Vera led a caravan of over 400 protestors from the Rio Grande Valley to the Dilley detention center to demonstrate against the facility's conditions and policies. The group, which included members of the Carnalismo Brown Berets, wore blue knit hats and bandanas in honor of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was previously detained at the center with his father.

Why it matters

The Dilley detention center has long been a target of criticism from immigrant advocates who argue that the for-profit facility operated by CoreCivic has mistreated and dehumanized the migrant women and children held there. This caravan protest is part of a growing movement across Texas to raise awareness about the issues at Dilley and demand reforms to the immigration detention system.

The details

Vera organized the caravan from the Rio Grande Valley, but the idea quickly spread, with similar caravans forming in San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth, and Houston. In total, around 400 protestors were expected to gather at the Dilley detention center on Saturday. The group passed out homemade tacos, blue bandanas, and hats as they prepared to make the four-hour drive north. Democratic congressional candidate Bobby Pulido bought 400 hot dogs to feed the protestors, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa was scheduled to be a keynote speaker.

  • The caravan departed from Edinburg, Texas, on the morning of Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • The group planned to arrive at the Dilley detention center later that morning to begin their protest.

The players

Chriselda Vera

A mother from Edinburg, Texas, who formed the Blue Bunny Brigade to protest the detention of migrants at the Dilley facility.

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was previously detained at the Dilley center with his father, inspiring the Blue Bunny Brigade's name and mission.

Rev. Ali Lopez-Valcarcel

A minister with the United Church of Christ Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, Texas, who often works with migrants on both sides of the border.

Juan Martinez

A member of the Carnalismo Brown Berets of the Rio Grande Valley, a Chicano rights group that participated in the caravan.

CoreCivic

The for-profit company that operates the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, which has faced criticism over its treatment of migrant detainees.

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What they’re saying

“We show up to protest. We wear our blue hats. We wear our blue bunny hat in honor of Liam because Liam represents so many children that are going through this. And when you look at that hat, how do you not feel something as a human being? He has endured so much trauma because of the impacts of these policies that have really harmed our community.”

— Chriselda Vera, Founder, Blue Bunny Brigade

“No family deserves to be in a jail.”

— Rev. Ali Lopez-Valcarcel, United Church of Christ Rio Grande Valley

“I totally disagree with these gestapo prisons for profit.”

— Juan Martinez, Carnalismo Brown Berets of the Rio Grande Valley

What’s next

Protesters plan to continue their demonstration outside the Dilley detention center throughout the day on Saturday, calling for the facility to be shut down and for reforms to the immigration detention system. Organizers say they expect the caravan and protest to be the start of a sustained campaign to raise awareness and pressure lawmakers to address the issues at Dilley.

The takeaway

This protest caravan reflects the growing grassroots movement in Texas to challenge the inhumane conditions and policies at immigration detention centers like Dilley. By mobilizing hundreds of advocates from across the state, the Blue Bunny Brigade and allied groups are sending a powerful message that the mistreatment of migrant families will no longer be tolerated.