Family Detention at Dilley Plummets After Children's Letters Spark Outrage

Arrivals at the immigrant family detention center in Texas have decreased sharply following the publication of letters written by detained children.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:48am

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The number of parents and children arriving at the Dilley, Texas, immigrant family detention center has decreased sharply. In February, arrivals plummeted by more than 75% compared to the previous month, according to data obtained by ProPublica from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The decline followed increased public attention sparked by the publication of letters written by children detained at the facility, detailing their experiences and feelings of despair.

Why it matters

The rapid decline in family detentions at Dilley suggests that sustained public pressure can influence policy, even in areas as politically charged as immigration enforcement. However, the long-term impact of this shift remains to be seen.

The details

Between April 2025 and January of this year, approximately 600 people were booked into the facility each month. That number fell to 133 in February and further decreased to 54 as of mid-March. This week, the facility held around 100 people, compared to an average of over 900 in January. The shift followed increased public attention sparked by the publication of letters written by children detained at the facility, detailing their experiences and feelings of despair. ProPublica published these letters on February 9, after a visit to the facility—located about an hour south of San Antonio—in mid-January. The letters generated outrage, appearing in congressional hearings and at anti-ICE demonstrations.

  • In February, arrivals plummeted by more than 75% compared to the previous month.
  • As of mid-March, the facility held around 54 people.
  • This week, the facility held around 100 people, compared to an average of over 900 in January.

The players

Dilley

An immigrant family detention center in Texas.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that oversees the Dilley facility.

Rep. James Walkinshaw

A Democratic congressman from Virginia who read a letter and displayed a drawing by a 5-year-old Venezuelan girl detained at Dilley during a congressional hearing.

Luisanney Toloza

A 5-year-old Venezuelan girl who wrote a letter and drew a picture while detained at Dilley.

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy who was photographed wearing a blue bunny hat upon his detention in Minnesota, drawing initial public attention to the children at Dilley.

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What they’re saying

“That trailer prison is no place for children, and I'm glad to hear that the numbers continue to decline. It's a reminder that people can make a difference by speaking up.”

— Rep. Joaquin Castro, Democratic congressman from Texas

“None of the faces are smiling.”

— Rep. James Walkinshaw, Democratic congressman from Virginia

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, stated that custody decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and are not based on public opinion. The long-term impact of the decline in family detentions at Dilley remains to be seen.

The takeaway

The rapid decline in family detentions at Dilley highlights the power of sustained public pressure to influence even politically charged policy areas like immigration enforcement. However, the lasting effects of this shift are still uncertain, and the Trump administration has argued that the Flores agreement limiting child detention is outdated.