Protesters Plan Caravan to Dilley Detention Center

Activists to decry conditions at controversial migrant family lockup southwest of San Antonio.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:53pm

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A moody, cinematic painting of a lone figure standing on a deserted urban street corner, the warm light casting deep shadows and creating a sense of isolation and melancholy, conceptually representing the plight of migrant families detained at the remote Dilley detention center.The caravan protest aims to shed light on the harsh realities faced by migrant families detained at the remote Dilley facility.San Antonio Today

A coalition of groups, including the Bexar County Democratic Party and local activist organizations, is organizing a caravan to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, to protest conditions at the controversial migrant detention facility. The caravan will depart San Antonio on Saturday morning.

Why it matters

The Dilley detention center has faced ongoing scrutiny from human rights advocates over allegations of substandard food, medical care, and lack of educational access for the migrant families held there. The protest aims to draw attention to these concerns and pressure authorities to improve conditions.

The details

The caravan is being organized by an array of groups, including the Bexar County Democratic Party, Project Unidad, and SATX Indivisible. Protesters will depart San Antonio at 9 a.m. on Saturday and head to the Dilley facility, which is the only family migrant detention center operating in the U.S. The demonstration comes after Democratic Reps. Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar recently said the privately run prison camp, reopened under the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, is now operating under increased secrecy.

  • The caravan will depart San Antonio at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Earlier this month, Democratic Reps. Castro and Casar held a press conference about the Dilley facility.

The players

Bexar County Democratic Party

A local political organization in Bexar County, Texas, which includes San Antonio.

Project Unidad

A San Antonio-based activist group focused on immigration and social justice issues.

SATX Indivisible

A San Antonio-based grassroots political advocacy group.

Rep. Joaquin Castro

Democratic U.S. Representative for Texas's 20th congressional district, which includes parts of San Antonio.

Rep. Greg Casar

Democratic U.S. Representative for Texas's 35th congressional district, which includes parts of San Antonio.

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What they’re saying

“When we got there, the folks at ICE pulled out scripts that they had been commanded to read by ICE leadership in Washington, D.C.”

— Rep. Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative

“There was a 'creepiness' to new procedures in place at the lockup.”

— Rep. Joaquin Castro, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The protest at the Dilley detention center is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2026.

The takeaway

This protest highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrant families detained at the Dilley facility and the lack of transparency around its operations. The caravan aims to draw attention to these issues and pressure authorities to improve conditions for those held at the center.