Stars Call for Closure of ICE Detention Center in Dilley, Texas

Madonna, Gracie Abrams, John Legend and dozens of other musicians sign open letter demanding the immediate shutdown of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:25pm

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A vibrant, fractured painting of a child's swing set or jungle gym, repeated in overlapping geometric shapes and waves of bold red, blue, and yellow, conveying the trauma and disruption experienced by children in immigration detention centers.A powerful visual metaphor for the disruption and harm caused by detaining children in immigration facilities.Dilley Today

A group of high-profile musicians, including Madonna, Gracie Abrams, John Legend, and dozens of others, have signed an open letter calling for the immediate closure of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, an ICE family detention facility in Dilley, Texas. The letter cites numerous reports of mistreatment and human rights violations against children and families held at the center, and urges the federal government and private prison operator CoreCivic to shut down the facility and release the detainees.

Why it matters

The Dilley detention center has become a major holding facility for parents and children detained by ICE, as the Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement and family separations. This open letter from prominent musicians represents the latest high-profile effort to draw attention to the alleged abuses occurring at the center and pressure the government to end the detention of children and families.

The details

The open letter, posted on Change.com, was signed by Madonna, Gracie Abrams, John Legend, Billy Porter, Brandi Carlile, Darren Criss, the Indigo Girls, Kesha, King Princess, Lance Bass, MUNA, Sara Bareilles, and dozens of other musicians. The letter states that 'No child should be locked in an immigration detention center' and cites court filings that have alleged 'refusals to provide clean water, rotten food contaminated with worms, dangerous medical neglect, sleep deprivation, denial of legal counsel, the separation of children from their families, and retaliation against families protesting the inhumane conditions' at the Dilley facility.

  • The open letter was posted on Change.com on March 30, 2026.

The players

Madonna

A legendary pop singer and one of the most prominent signatories of the open letter calling for the closure of the Dilley ICE detention center.

Gracie Abrams

A rising singer-songwriter who also signed the open letter demanding the shutdown of the Dilley facility.

John Legend

A Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who joined dozens of other musicians in signing the letter to close the Dilley ICE detention center.

CoreCivic

The private prison operator that runs the Dilley Immigration Processing Center on behalf of ICE.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration has overseen a significant increase in immigration enforcement and family separations at the border.

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What’s next

The open letter is currently open for public signatures on Change.com, and the organizers are hoping to gather as many signatures as possible to increase pressure on the federal government and CoreCivic to close the Dilley detention center.

The takeaway

This high-profile letter from dozens of musicians represents the latest effort by activists and advocates to shine a spotlight on the alleged abuses occurring at ICE detention facilities like the one in Dilley, Texas, and to demand an end to the detention of children and families by the immigration enforcement agency.