Migrant Families Released to Laredo Without Federal Aid

Congressman Cuellar questions DHS after learning of releases from Dilley detention center

Feb. 1, 2026 at 10:55am

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U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said he was unaware that migrant families were being released from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley and transported to Laredo, a development that local nonprofit leaders say has increased demand for humanitarian aid without accompanying federal funding. Cuellar questioned why families already involved in immigration proceedings are being detained and released again, restarting uncertainty for the families.

Why it matters

This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by border communities like Laredo in providing humanitarian assistance to migrant families without adequate federal support. It raises questions about the detention and release policies of the Department of Homeland Security and the impact on vulnerable families already navigating the immigration system.

The details

Cuellar said families are being released from the Dilley detention facility and transported to Laredo in varying numbers, with some days seeing as few as two dozen people and other days close to 100. The families include both recent border crossers and people who were detained in the interior of the United States. Cuellar said the federal government does not pay for transportation after release, leaving families to cover travel costs themselves.

  • Cuellar said he learned of the releases only after receiving a phone call on February 1, 2026.

The players

Henry Cuellar

A U.S. Representative who represents Texas's 28th congressional district and is questioning the Department of Homeland Security's practices of releasing migrant families to Laredo without federal aid.

Michael Andrew Smith

The director of the Holding Institute, a Laredo nonprofit that provides temporary shelter and basic services to the migrant families being released in the city.

Melissa Cigarroa

A Laredo District III Councilmember who praised local nonprofits for stepping in to assist the migrant families but acknowledged the city's funding limitations in supporting these humanitarian efforts.

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What they’re saying

“My response was, no, I did not know that this was happening. They're releasing people from the Dilley facility … to, as far as we know, only one place on the border, which is here at Holding.”

— Henry Cuellar, U.S. Representative

“We don't want to see people on the streets. Sometimes you just have to do the right thing, period.”

— Michael Andrew Smith, Director, Holding Institute

“When those people are deployed here, then the cost of returning it to their communities is borne by those same families.”

— Melissa Cigarroa, Laredo District III Councilmember

What’s next

Cuellar said he plans to speak directly with Tom Homan, the border czar, in the coming days to continue discussions about the situation in Laredo.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing strain on border communities like Laredo in providing humanitarian aid to migrant families without adequate federal support, raising questions about the detention and release policies of the Department of Homeland Security and the impact on vulnerable families already navigating the complex immigration system.