U.S. Rep. Calls ICE Facility in South Texas a 'Prison'

Castro says most detainees have no criminal records and were breadwinners for their families.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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After touring an ICE detention center in Pearsall, Texas, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro called the facility an "absolute prison" and said most of the immigrants held there did not have criminal records, with many previously working in construction to support their families.

Why it matters

Castro's visit and criticism of the ICE facility highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in detention centers and the impact of mass deportation efforts on local communities and industries.

The details

Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, spent 2.5 hours at the South Texas ICE Processing Center, where he said the 1,700 detainees were held in a "prison-like environment" with razor wire, steel doors, and sparse interiors. He said many of the detainees pleaded to be returned to their families or deported, and that one detainee had lived in the U.S. for 30 years, working in construction to support his family before being detained.

  • On Friday, Castro toured the ICE facility in Pearsall, Texas.
  • In late January, Castro visited the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley.

The players

Joaquin Castro

A U.S. Representative from San Antonio, Texas, who has been critical of ICE's detention practices and the presence of Texas National Guard troops at these facilities.

Maxine Dexter

A U.S. Representative from Oregon who accompanied Castro on the tour of the ICE facility in Pearsall.

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old boy from Minnesota who was held with his father at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. A federal judge ordered their release, saying ICE agents had violated their due process rights.

Greg Abbott

The Governor of Texas, who Castro criticized for allowing Texas National Guard troops to be deployed to ICE facilities.

Todd M. Lyons

The acting director of ICE, to whom Castro sent a letter requesting to speak with Texas National Guard personnel at the Pearsall facility.

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What they’re saying

“The vast majority of these people have no criminal history at all, have not committed a single crime.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (San Antonio Express-News)

“You have a lot of these guys that were the breadwinners for their family, and now their wife and their kids are out there without support. They were productive members of the community. They were working.”

— Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative (San Antonio Express-News)

What’s next

Castro said he plans to return to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley once access is restored after a measles outbreak.

The takeaway

Castro's visit and criticism of the ICE facility in Pearsall highlight ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants in detention centers and the impact of mass deportation efforts on local communities and industries, raising questions about the role of the Texas National Guard and the need for greater oversight and reform of the immigration detention system.