911 Calls Reveal Children Struggling to Breathe at ICE Detention Center

Emergency crews dispatched to Dilley facility at least 11 times since September for children in medical distress

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Emergency calls obtained by NBC News reveal that medical staff at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas have requested ambulances for children struggling to breathe, burning with fever, or appearing lethargic. Since mid-September, emergency crews have been dispatched to Dilley at least 11 times to treat children in medical distress, highlighting concerns about the facility's ability to provide adequate care for detained immigrant children and their families.

Why it matters

The 911 calls and doctors' warnings raise serious questions about the suitability of holding children in detention centers, which have been criticized by lawyers, immigration advocates, and pediatricians as unsuitable for children's health and well-being. The incidents at Dilley underscore broader concerns about the Trump administration's expanding immigration crackdown and the potential health consequences for vulnerable populations, including young children.

The details

The emergency calls obtained by NBC News describe children experiencing respiratory distress, allergic reactions, possible leg fractures, low oxygen levels, and seizures. Most of the children were taken to a nearby community hospital, while in at least three cases, children were transferred more than an hour away to a specialized pediatric hospital in San Antonio. In one case, a 22-month-old boy's condition was so serious that first responders wanted to fly him to the hospital by helicopter, but couldn't due to bad weather.

  • Since mid-September, emergency crews have been dispatched to Dilley at least 11 times.
  • In a more recent case not captured in the dispatch logs, 2-month-old Juan Nicolás was taken to a hospital last week with a respiratory illness after his mother said he choked on his own vomit.

The players

Dilley Immigration Processing Center

A remote facility in South Texas that houses hundreds of immigrant children and their parents.

Kheilin Valero Marcano

The mother of 17-month-old Amalia, who was detained at Dilley and struggled with worsening respiratory symptoms for weeks before being hospitalized for pneumonia, COVID-19, and respiratory distress.

Dr. Lara Jones

A pediatric critical care physician based in California who argues that holding children in a prisonlike setting is fundamentally incompatible with their health.

Dr. Ashley Cozzo

A pediatrician and neonatologist based in Connecticut who is concerned that conditions at the Dilley facility may be contributing to the spread of infectious diseases and that care is not escalating quickly enough to prevent emergencies.

CoreCivic

The private company that operates the Dilley facility under a federal contract.

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What they’re saying

“There is absolutely, unequivocally no appropriate way to detain a child, period. It is causing physical, mental, measurable, studied harm. And there is no context in which that's justified.”

— Dr. Lara Jones, Pediatric critical care physician (NBC News)

“Many times I had to take the girl with a fever. Thank God, because you haven't done anything.”

— Kheilin Valero Marcano (NBC News)

“Those calls are pointing in the same direction. A missed opportunity at early identification and appropriate intervention.”

— Dr. Ashley Cozzo, Pediatrician and neonatologist (NBC News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the family to be released from detention.

The takeaway

The 911 calls and doctors' warnings highlight the serious health risks and potential for harm that come with detaining children in facilities like the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. This case underscores the need for comprehensive reform of the immigration detention system to prioritize the well-being and humane treatment of vulnerable populations, especially children.