A rainbow, a household portrait, a coronary heart. These are the drawings present in handwritten letters from youngsters detained on the Dilley Immigration Processing Heart in South Texas.
In early February there have been greater than 750 households, practically half of them together with youngsters, in addition to some 370 single grownup ladies being held at this facility. It is only one of many immigration facilities throughout the nation, however the one one holding households. Because the begin of the Trump administration, the variety of youngsters in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention has skyrocketed, rising sixfold.
ProPublica acquired letters in mid-January from a number of youngsters at Dilley. All however two of them had been residing in america once they have been detained. Of their phrases and drawings, they convey how a lot they ache for creature comforts and describe the anguish of being trapped. They write about lacking their mates and lecturers, falling behind in school, having unreliable entry to medical care once they’re sick — some say they’re sick loads — and feeling scared about what comes subsequent.
The Division of Homeland Safety, which oversees ICE, stated in a press release that each one detainees at Dilley are “being supplied with correct medical care.” DHS didn’t reply to questions on particular person detainees however stated all “are supplied with 3 meals a day, clear water, clothes, bedding, showers, cleaning soap, and toiletries” and that “licensed dieticians consider meals.” DHS additionally stated “youngsters have entry to lecturers, lecture rooms, and curriculum booklets for math, studying, and spelling.” Detained mother and father are given the choice for his or her households to be deported collectively, or they’ll have their youngsters positioned with one other caregiver, the assertion stated. CoreCivic, which operates the ability, stated it’s topic to a number of layers of oversight and that well being and security are a high precedence.
The general public isn’t given an alternative to glimpse inside Dilley and get a take a look at how the children there are doing. Right here, we let the youngsters communicate for themselves.
Susej F
A 9-year-old from Venezuela who was residing in Houston, Texas
Detained for 50 days
“I miss my faculty and my mates I really feel dangerous since after I got here right here to this Place, as a result of I’ve been right here too lengthy.”
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“Howdy, my title is Susej F and I’am 9 years previous. I’am from Venezuela. I’ve been 50 days in Dilley Immigration Processing Heart. And I need to go to my Nation. However I miss my faculty and my mates I really feel dangerous since after I got here right here to this Place, as a result of I’ve been right here too lengthy. I’ve been 2 years and 6 months in u.s.a., and I used to be proud of my mates in The college however now I want to depart. I miss my household in my nation so now I would like To go to Venezuela. However my mother don’t need to depart as a result of she needs a greater future for me. Seen how folks like me, immigrants are been handled modifications my perspective in regards to the U.S. My mother and I got here to The united stateslooking for a superb and secure place to stay, and my mother was on the lookout for a Good job.”
Take heed to Ariana learn her letter
Ariana V. V.
A 14-year-old from Honduras who was residing in Hicksville, New York
Detained for 45 days
“Since I received to this Heart all you’ll really feel is unhappiness and largely melancholy.”
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“Howdy, my title is Ariana V.V. im 14 years previous and im from Honduras, ive been detained for 45 days and I’ve by no means felt a lot worry to go to a spot as I really feel right here everytime I remind myself that after I’m going again to Honduras quite a lot of harmful issues may occur to my mother and my youthful siblings haven’t been in a position to see their mother in additional than a month. They’re very younger and also you want each of your mother and father when you find yourself rising up. Since I received to this Heart all you’ll really feel is unhappiness and largely melancholy. When folks have their courts the longest they may final is quarter-hour, our rights usually are not being supplied, arrest are occurring when folks don’t even have any sort of order, arrests are occurring illegally.
Its unhappy to listen to that peoples case are being denied and are getting ship again to their nation locations the place they’re escaping from and are on the lookout for safety and need to really feel secure. Not lots of people know what is going on within the Facilities the place immigrants are positioned at. I haven’t been getting any faculty time. Each single particular person in right here had their jobs they’d their lifes, they aren’t any hazard for this Nation.
Ive been on this nation for nearly 7 years and in these 7 years my mother and I discovered a house and made a much bigger household. I’ve by no means been separated from my siblings and its actually unhappy as a result of they’re little and so they want their mother and sister, yeah they’re with their dad however its nonetheless totally different for them and my mother and I. Because the day my mother and I get detained in Manhattan NY, my life was instanly paused, from my data you possibly can’t be underneath custody for greater than 15 or 20 days, effectively right here in Dilley Immigration Processing Heart folks have been on this place for 7 months, 5 months, 4-2 months, its not truthful that the ICE officers usually are not following the legal guidelines. All children are being harm mentally, they witness how the’ve been handled.
They don’t have colleges, physician, all they’ve are nurses, in the event you want medical consideration the longest you need to wait is 3 hours, however to get any drugs, capsule, something it takes some time, there are numerous viruses individuals are at all times sick. Severe conditions occur and the officers can’t take them critical sufficient there are not any consecuenses, they don’t care.”
Luisanney Toloza
A 5-year-old from Venezuela who had just lately crossed the U.S.-Mexico border
“My household”
Mia Valentina Paz Faria
A 7-year-old from Venezuela who was residing in Austin, Texas
Detained for 70 days
“I don’t need to be on this place I need to go to my faculty.”
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“Howdy my title is Mia Valentina Paz Faria I’m from Venezuela I’ve been residing in america for 3 years, I’m 7 years previous, I’ve been right here for 70 days on this place, I don’t need to be on this place I need to go to my faculty, I miss my grandparents, I miss my mates, I don’t just like the meals right here, I miss my faculty, I don’t like being right here, I’m bored right here, I don’t really feel so good on this place, I already need to depart this place, I miss my uncles, I hope to depart right here quickly.”
Scarlett Jaimes
A 17-year-old from Venezuela who was residing in El Paso, Texas
“One of many issues that I may complain about is that they don’t have various meals and it’s virtually the identical and it bores me that it takes away my urge for food”
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“01/16/25
Initially I need to introduce myself my title is Scarlett Jaimes and I’m penning this to precise how I really feel on this place, since they detained my mom and me I really feel actually, actually bored and overwhelmed as a result of although I’m somebody who doesn’t do many productive issues being locked up in opposition to my will is kind of overwhelming, additionally I really feel down about the concept I couldn’t end my faculty yr and that I wager I’m going to finish up in a worse faculty in my very own nation, for my part what I take into consideration this place is just not a giant deal because it’s a traditional and odd camp.One of many issues that I may complain about is that they don’t have various meals and it’s virtually the identical and it bores me and I lose my urge for food and I’m not going to even point out the shop meals as a result of some folks don’t have the funds for and likewise some meals tastes like cardboard, additionally within the retailer it appears a little bit unfair to me that they purchase issues which might be excessive priced and dangerous high quality like for instance the notebooks and likewise coloured pencils. In my view this place has to vary a number of issues just like the cleanliness and I do know it’s not the employees’ fault however the folks’s and I do know that even when there are guidelines no one goes to care about them and that’s the reason individuals are in opposition to the employees right here as a result of it appears that evidently there’ll at all times be battle they need to preserve their phrase of holding folks a most 21 days as a result of if this continues like this this camp goes to worsen for many individuals.”
Gaby M.M
A 14-year-old from Colombia who was residing in Houston, Texas
Detained for 20 days
“I really feel a lot unhappiness and melancholy of not having the ability to depart, its actually unhappy to listen to that peoples circumstances are being denied and getting ship again to their countrys.”
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“Hola! my title is Gaby M.M im 14 years previous im from Colombia
I ve been detained in Dilley Immigration Processing Heart for 20 days and I haven’t been getthing the rigth schooling on account of being in right here. I’ve’t been in a position to see my household and mates, since I received right here I began to really feel unhappy additionally I haven’t feelt joyful since I received right here.
The officers have dangerous method of chatting with residents when the are asking anithing the employees deal with the residents unhumanly, verbally and I don’t need to imging how they might act in the event that they the place unsupervised. I actually need to go house I don’t care if I’ve to go to Katy or Colombia as a result of in each locations I’ve a house and college I get bored loads and I don’t know what to do, I made mates right here and so they advised me how the been right here for 7 months and I get actually shocked as a result of I can’t imaging how dangerous and unhappy and stessed being right here.
I need to let you know guys how I really feel and is hell like I actually need to go the meals is dangerous im bored with almots the identical factor. I really feel a lot unhappiness and melancholy of not having the ability to depart, its actually unhappy to listen to that peoples circumstances are being denied and getting ship again to their countrys.”
Ender
A 12-year-old from Venezuela who was residing in Austin, Texas
Detained for 60 days
“Greater than 60 days … going to the physician and that the one factor they let you know is to drink extra water and the worst factor is that it appears the water is what makes folks sick right here.”
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“Howdy I’m Ender and I’m 12 years previous, I’ve been at this heart for two months. I arrived right here for an immigration appointment and I don’t suppose they need to seize immigrants who’re harmless, like as an alternative of grabbing criminals as a result of I imply they like to lock up youngsters than search for individuals who actually shouldn’t be within the U.S. They advised me I may solely be right here 21 days however I’ve already spent greater than 60 days waking up consuming the identical repetitive meals, going exterior and that almost all of guards by no means take note of folks, consuming dinner at all times the identical because the day earlier than, seeing folks cry daily for a similar causes, attempting to sleep in that horrible uncomfortable mattress, going to the physician and that the one factor they let you know is to drink extra water and the worst factor is that it looks as if the water is what makes folks sick right here, going to attend for the dangerous solutions from the judges, listening to the dangerous information from individuals who not have hope, having to share a room with minimal 3 households, and all that so that they ship us again to our nations.”
Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya
A 9-year-old from Colombia
Detained for 113 days
“Me in dilei [Dilley] am not joyful please get me out of right here to colombia.”
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“Title Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya
Nation I’m colombian
Age 9 years
Locked in custody how lengthy 113 Days
I’m Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya and I’ve been 113 days in detention I miss my mates and I really feel they’re going to overlook me. I’m bored right here. I already miss my nation and my home, I got here on trip for 10 Days and so they took me into an ice workplace an officer interrogated me 2 hours with out my mother, I used to be touring with flight attendant as a result of my mother lives in ny, they solely needed to arrest my mother, as a result of my mother didn’t have paperwork to stay in U.S.A., I at all times traveled with my vacationer visa however ice used me to catch my mother and now I’m in a jail and I’m unhappy and I’ve fainted 2 instances right here inside. After I arrived each night time I cried and now I don’t sleep effectively, I felt that being right here was my fault and I solely needed to be on trip like a traditional household.
They don’t give me my eating regimen I’m vegetarian, I don’t eat effectively, there isn’t any good schooling and I miss my finest good friend julieta and my grandmother and my faculty I already need to get to my home.
Me in dilei [Dilley] am not joyful please get me out of right here to colombia.
Antonia”
In regards to the Letters
Reporter Mica Rosenberg requested detainees whether or not their youngsters could be keen to jot down letters or draw footage about their experiences. One detainee gathered the letters and introduced them out of the middle once they have been launched from Dilley on Jan. 20. The detainee stated the mother and father whose youngsters participated have been conscious that the letters could be shared with a journalist with the intention of constructing them public. Afterward we reached out to the detainee who shared the letters and obtained, when attainable, further particulars just like the areas the place the households have been residing earlier than they have been detained. The size of time the youngsters say they’ve been detained is as of mid-January, once they wrote the letters. Among the letter writers have since been launched; the standing of others is unclear.
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