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Teenager Describes Harrowing Life in ICE Detention Center
Olivia, 19, has been held for months at the Dilley facility in Texas, losing 20 pounds and suffering daily headaches.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:11pm
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A young detainee's account sheds light on the harsh realities faced by minors and young adults held in immigration detention facilities.Dilley TodayA 19-year-old girl named Olivia has been detained for months at the sprawling Dilley immigration detention center in Texas, where she says she has lost 20 pounds and wakes up every day with a headache from the poor conditions.
Why it matters
Olivia's story sheds light on the harsh realities faced by minors and young adults held in ICE detention facilities, which have faced ongoing criticism over substandard living conditions, inadequate medical care, and allegations of abuse.
The details
Olivia, who has been detained at the Dilley facility for several months, describes waking up every day with a headache due to the poor conditions at the center. She has also lost a significant amount of weight, dropping 20 pounds since her arrival at the facility.
- Olivia has been detained at the Dilley facility for several months.
The players
Olivia
A 19-year-old girl who has been detained at the Dilley immigration detention center in Texas for several months.
Dilley Detention Center
A sprawling immigration detention facility located in Dilley, Texas that has faced ongoing criticism over its treatment of detainees.
What they’re saying
“I feel that this place is not good for my health. I wake up every day with a headache.”
— Olivia
The takeaway
Olivia's harrowing account of life in the Dilley detention center highlights the urgent need for reform and oversight of the immigration detention system to ensure the humane treatment of all detainees, especially vulnerable populations like minors and young adults.
