911 Calls Reveal Medical Emergencies at Texas ICE Detention Center

Advocates say calls underscore concerns about conditions at the South Texas Family Residential Center

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Emergency calls obtained by ABC News from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas reveal a series of medical emergencies involving pregnant women and young children, including cases of respiratory distress, seizures, and high fevers. Immigrant advocates and medical professionals say the calls underscore their concerns about the conditions at the sprawling ICE detention facility.

Why it matters

The 911 calls provide a rare glimpse into the medical issues faced by detainees at the South Texas Family Residential Center, which has faced ongoing criticism from advocates about the quality of care provided to migrants, including pregnant women and young children. The revelations raise questions about the facility's ability to properly identify and respond to medical emergencies.

The details

The 911 audio calls from Frio County, dating from October 2025 through February 2026, document medical staff at the South Texas Family Residential Center requesting ambulances for migrant detainees experiencing seizures, fainting, respiratory distress, high fevers, and other medical issues. In one call, a staff member requested assistance for a 17-month-old child 'going through respiratory distress.' Other calls involved a 6-year-old boy with lethargy and a high fever, a 14-month-old in respiratory distress, and a 22-month-old with a fever and low oxygen levels.

  • The 911 calls were placed between October 2025 and February 2026.
  • The South Texas Family Residential Center was closed during the Biden administration and reopened last year as the Trump administration's immigration enforcement measures increased.

The players

South Texas Family Residential Center

A sprawling ICE detention facility located in Dilley, Texas that has faced ongoing criticism from advocates about the quality of care provided to migrant detainees, including pregnant women and young children.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro

A U.S. Representative who recently raised concerns about the detention of a 2-month-old infant at the Dilley facility.

Dr. Anita Patel

A board-certified pediatrician who recently sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem calling for the release of all children at the Dilley facility, stating that detained families 'are not receiving the standard of care.'

Department of Homeland Security

The government agency that operates the nation's migrant detention centers, including the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley.

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What they’re saying

“What is clearly evident is they have no ability to recognize potentially lethal or emergent situations, and they have no clinical acumen to say when something is a medical emergency.”

— Dr. Anita Patel, Board-certified pediatrician (ABC News)

“What I am hearing from families and what we are witnessing is a human rights catastrophe. They don't have access to medical care, they don't have access to appropriate nutrition; all of these standard humanitarian policies stated by the U.N. all the way down to laws are not being followed.”

— Dr. Anita Patel, Board-certified pediatrician (ABC News)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has disputed the allegations made by detained families and advocates about the Dilley facility, stating that detainees have 'ongoing access to on-site medical professionals.' However, the 911 calls and concerns raised by medical professionals like Dr. Patel suggest that further investigation and oversight may be needed to ensure proper medical care is being provided to migrants, especially vulnerable populations like pregnant women and young children.

The takeaway

The 911 calls from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley underscore the ongoing concerns about the medical care and conditions at ICE detention facilities, particularly for vulnerable populations like pregnant women and young children. This case highlights the need for greater transparency, oversight, and adherence to international human rights standards in the treatment of migrants in U.S. custody.