Children Plead for Freedom From ICE Detention Center

Handwritten letters from kids in Texas facility describe frustration, depression, and inadequate medical care.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 8:15am

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Handwritten letters from children detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas offer a rare glimpse into the experiences of young immigrants caught up in the U.S. immigration crackdown. The letters, obtained by ProPublica, describe months-long confinement, missed school and friends, concerns about medical care, and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. The children, some as young as 5 years old, have reportedly been living in the U.S. for several years before being detained.

Why it matters

The letters provide a firsthand account of the emotional and psychological toll that immigration detention can have on children, raising concerns about the treatment and conditions at family detention centers like Dilley. This story highlights the human impact of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies and the experiences of vulnerable minors caught in the system.

The details

The letters were collected by a detainee at the Dilley facility and shared with ProPublica after the detainee's release on January 20. The children describe frustration with their long confinement, missing school and friends, and concerns about inadequate medical care. One 12-year-old, Ender, said "Going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems the water is what makes people sick here." The Department of Homeland Security claims detainees receive proper care, but the children's words paint a different picture.

  • The letters were obtained by ProPublica in mid-January 2026.
  • The letters were written by children detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas.

The players

Dilley Immigration Processing Center

A family detention center in Texas that holds over 750 immigrant families, according to the report.

ProPublica

A nonprofit investigative journalism organization that obtained and published the letters from children detained at the Dilley facility.

Department of Homeland Security

The government agency that oversees immigration enforcement, including the Dilley detention center, and claims detainees receive proper care.

CoreCivic

The private prison company that operates the Dilley detention center, which says it is subject to multiple layers of oversight.

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What they’re saying

“I miss my school and my friends I feel bad since when I came here to this Place, because I have been here too long.”

— Susej F., 9-year-old from Venezuela

“Since I got to this Center all you will feel is sadness and mostly depression.”

— Ariana V. V., 14 years old

“Going to the doctor and that the only thing they tell you is to drink more water and the worst thing is that it seems the water is what makes people sick here.”

— Ender, 12 years old

“Me in dilei [sic] am not happy please get me out of here to colombia.”

— Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya, 9 years old

The takeaway

These letters from children detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center provide a heartbreaking firsthand account of the emotional and psychological toll that immigration detention can have on vulnerable minors. The children's pleas for freedom and descriptions of inadequate medical care and depression raise serious concerns about the treatment and conditions at family detention centers, underscoring the human impact of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies.