Families detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley have grown in number over the past week, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, who visited the ICE facility and renewed calls for families to be released.
“Over the past week at Dilley, the population at Dilley, it looks like, has gone up about 10% over the past week. It went from about 520 people now to 576 people,” Castro said during a news conference.
Castro said he is concerned that families of Hispanic military members are being targeted as part of what he described as the president’s mass deportation agenda.
“That’s very disturbing. But it also corresponds to what we’ve seen out there on the streets with ICE… we have seen now time after time that spouses that parents, U.S. service members have been taken in by ICE and some of them deported,” Castro said.
Castro has been posting stories on Facebook about families detained by ICE, including Maria Garcia, whom he identified as the mother of U.S. Navy midshipman David Garcia. Castro said she was detained a few days ago when she showed up for her green card interview.
He also posted about 9-year-old Katherine and her father, Jesus Bracho. Castro said Bracho was arrested as he arrived at work and then was forced to lure his daughter out of his employer’s home so officers could detain her as well. Castro said both were released from the Dilley detention facility today after spending more than a month there, and that the child would be returning home to San Antonio.
Castro also criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s role in immigration enforcement.
“Greg Abbott, the governor, has forced local law enforcement to be part of these abusive ICE operations. And that’s shameful for a Texas governor,” Castro said.
Two days ago, Texas Democrats requested that Abbott permanently close the Dilley facility after a federal judge in California ordered independent oversight of facilities holding children in Texas, due to allegations of a lack of medical care and extended stays.
“They play these games, they keep changing the rules, and it’s because they want to meet out punishment and cruelty to these people,” Castro said.
CoreCivic, which operates Dilley’s detention center, refuted Democrats’ claims, saying it provides a safe, humane environment. According to the company’s website, the facility provides three meals a day and medical services.