DHS denies reports of harsh conditions at Texas ICE facility

The Department of Homeland Security aimed to set the record straight about the conditions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dilley, South Texas, according to a Wednesday statement. Officials pushed back on critics likening holding facilities to prisons. The Dilley facility is retrofitted for families to live in safe and humane conditions while waiting to be deported, ICE said.

What kind of allegations were made against the facility? A Feb. 9 report by the nonprofit investigative news outlet ProPublica made allegations of harsh living conditions at the facility, including poor food quality and crowded living quarters. Some of the families reported worms and mold in the food, according to the report. The outlet also reported that medical care was inadequate, with some children becoming seriously ill. One family reported that an 18-month-old had to be hospitalized and developed pneumonia and bronchitis because of the cold conditions and lack of treatment, according to ProPublica.

What did DHS have to say about those allegations? People need to remember that ICE detains to deport, so detention centers aren’t punitive correctional centers, ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said. Families illegally living in the United States get access to medical care, education, recreation, and essential daily living needs while they wait to be deported, Lyons said.

DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis accused the media and so-called sanctuary politicians of spreading various false claims about the Dilley facility, including the allegation that children are denied medical care and don’t have educational resources, according to a separate statement. The fact is that detention is a choice, and all parents can get a free flight home and $2,600 from DHS if they choose, she added.

What does the facility include? Families remain together in private living areas where they’re provided with meals and laundry services, along with access to phones, tablets and legal resources. It’s a far cry from the myth that ICE separates families, ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall said.

Adult, child, and infant detainees receive a comprehensive medical screening within 12 hours of arriving, where doctors identify and address various health issues, ICE said. Within two days of arriving, detainees receive specialized medical care as needed at no cost, including lab work, hospitalization, and other medical consultations. This is the best healthcare most illegal migrants have received in their entire lives, ICE said.

The facility provides sippy cups and cribs for children, along with infant care packages with formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, wipes and hygiene items. Children have access to teachers, classrooms, and curriculum for math, reading and spelling, along with toys and outdoor activities funded by the U.S. taxpayer, ICE said.

DHS’s push to correct what the agency said were false public rumors came amid the department’s shutdown after lawmakers hit a funding stalemate. Democrats and Republicans sparred over DHS agency reforms, namely ICE restrictions and oversight.

Dig deeper: Read Travis K. Kircher’s previous report for more about the funding stalemate.