In Texas, calls are mounting to shut down the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, where it’s estimated more than 100 children are being detained by ICE. This comes after a 5-year-old boy, identified as Liam Tadeo, and his father were taken by ICE on their way to a child’s soccer game in Austin last week. Journalist Lidia Terrazas of Univision posted a video on social media showing Liam crying and his father handcuffed as they’re escorted into a vehicle. The arrest happened just days before Liam was set to start kindergarten. This is Texas Democratic Congressmember Greg Casar.
Rep. Greg Casar: ”ICE just arrested a 5-year-old boy on his way to a soccer game in my home city of Austin, Texas. His name, just like the name of the little boy from Minnesota, is Liam. And Liam should be starting kindergarten this week, but instead he’s sitting in a trailer prison right now in Dilley, Texas.”
Texas Democratic Congressmember Joaquin Castro said ICE denied his request to visit Liam and his father at the ICE camp. Castro said afterward, “His detention is another devastating example of why Dilley must be shut down and why our government must end the detention of children and families. I have seen firsthand the conditions that children and families are being subjected to at Dilley, and no child should be held there.” Dilley is run by the for-profit prison company CoreCivic.