A rainbow, a household portrait, a coronary heart. These are the drawings present in handwritten letters from kids detained on the Dilley Immigration Processing Heart in South Texas.
In early February there have been greater than 750 households, almost half of them together with kids, in addition to some 370 single grownup girls being held at this facility. It is only one of many immigration centers throughout the nation, however the one one holding households. Because the begin of the Trump administration, the variety of kids in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention has skyrocketed, increasing sixfold.
ProPublica acquired letters in mid-January from a number of kids 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 associates 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, mentioned in a press release that every one detainees at Dilley are “being supplied with correct medical care.” DHS didn’t reply to questions on particular person detainees however mentioned 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 mentioned “kids have entry to lecturers, lecture rooms, and curriculum booklets for math, studying, and spelling.” Detained dad and mom are given the choice for his or her households to be deported collectively, or they’ll have their kids positioned with one other caregiver, the assertion mentioned. CoreCivic, which operates the ability, mentioned 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 opportunity to glimpse inside Dilley and get a take a look at how the youngsters there are doing. Right here, we let the kids converse 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 associates I really feel dangerous since once I got here right here to this Place, as a result of I’ve been right here too lengthy.”
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“Hi there, my title is Susej F and I’am 9 years outdated. I’am from Venezuela. I’ve been 50 days in Dilley Immigration Processing Heart. And I wish to go to my Nation. However I miss my faculty and my associates I really feel dangerous since once 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., and I used to be proud of my associates in The college however now I would like to depart. I miss my household in my nation so now I need To go to Venezuela. However my mother don’t wish to go away as a result of she desires a greater future for me. Seen how folks like me, immigrants are been handled adjustments my perspective concerning the U.S. My mother and I got here to The uslooking for a great and protected place to reside, 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 obtained to this Heart all you’ll really feel is disappointment and largely despair.”
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“Hi there, my title is Ariana V.V. im 14 years outdated and im from Honduras, ive been detained for 45 days and I’ve by no means felt a lot concern to go to a spot as I really feel right here everytime I remind myself that after I am going again to Honduras loads of harmful issues might occur to my mother and my youthful siblings haven’t been capable of see their mother in additional than a month. They’re very younger and also you want each of your dad and mom if you end up rising up. Since I obtained to this Heart all you’ll really feel is disappointment and largely despair. When folks have their courts the longest they’ll final is quarter-hour, our rights aren’t being supplied, arrest are occurring when folks don’t even have any kind 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 wish to really feel protected. 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 individual in right here had their jobs that they had 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 an even bigger household. I’ve by no means been separated from my siblings and its actually unhappy as a result of they’re little they usually want their mother and sister, yeah they’re with their dad however its nonetheless completely 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 below custody for greater than 15 or 20 days, properly 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 aren’t following the legal guidelines. All youngsters are being injury mentally, they witness how the’ve been handled.
They don’t have colleges, physician, all they’ve are nurses, for those who want medical consideration the longest you must wait is 3 hours, however to get any medication, capsule, something it takes some time, there are numerous viruses persons are at all times sick. Critical 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 not too long ago 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 wish to be on this place I wish to go to my faculty.”
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“Hi there my title is Mia Valentina Paz Faria I’m from Venezuela I’ve been residing in america for 3 years, I’m 7 years outdated, I’ve been right here for 70 days on this place, I don’t wish to be on this place I wish to go to my faculty, I miss my grandparents, I miss my associates, 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 wish to go away 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 might complain about is that they don’t have different 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
To start with I wish 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 regardless that 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 12 months and that I guess I’m going to finish up in a worse faculty in my very own nation, in my view what I take into consideration this place just isn’t a giant deal because it’s a standard and odd camp.One of many issues that I might complain about is that they don’t have different 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 find the money for and likewise some meals tastes like cardboard, additionally within the retailer it appears just a little 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. For my part this place has to alter 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 person goes to care about them and that’s the reason persons are in opposition to the employees right here as a result of evidently there’ll at all times be battle they need to hold their phrase of preserving 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 disappointment and despair of not with the ability to go away, its actually unhappy to listen to that peoples instances are being denied and getting ship again to their countrys.”
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“Hola! my title is Gaby M.M im 14 years outdated im from Colombia
I ve been detained in Dilley Immigration Processing Heart for 20 days and I haven’t been getthing the rigth training on account of being in right here. I’ve’t been capable of see my household and associates, since I obtained right here I began to really feel unhappy additionally I haven’t feelt completely happy since I obtained right here.
The officers have dangerous method of talking to residents when the are asking anithing the employees deal with the residents unhumanly, verbally and I don’t wish to imging how they’d act in the event that they the place unsupervised. I actually wish to go dwelling 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 associates right here they usually advised me how the been right here for 7 months and I get actually stunned as a result of I can’t imaging how dangerous and unhappy and stessed being right here.
I wish to let you know guys how I really feel and is hell like I actually wish to go the meals is dangerous im bored with almots the identical factor. I really feel a lot disappointment and despair of not with the ability to go away, its actually unhappy to listen to that peoples instances 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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“Hi there I’m Ender and I’m 12 years outdated, 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 a substitute of grabbing criminals as a result of I imply they like to lock up kids than search for individuals who actually shouldn’t be within the U.S. They advised me I might solely be right here 21 days however I’ve already spent greater than 60 days waking up consuming the identical repetitive meals, going outdoors 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 each day 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 like 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 in order that they ship us again to our international locations.”
Maria Antonia Guerra Montoya
A 9-year-old from Colombia
Detained for 113 days
“Me in dilei [Dilley] am not completely happy please get me out of right here to colombia.”
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“Identify 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 associates and I really feel they’re going to neglect me. I’m bored right here. I already miss my nation and my home, I got here on trip for 10 Days they usually 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 the big apple, they solely needed to arrest my mother, as a result of my mother didn’t have paperwork to reside 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 occasions right here inside. After I arrived each night time I cried and now I don’t sleep properly, I felt that being right here was my fault and I solely needed to be on trip like a standard household.
They don’t give me my food plan I’m vegetarian, I don’t eat properly, there isn’t any good training and I miss my greatest good friend julieta and my grandmother and my faculty I already wish to get to my home.
Me in dilei [Dilley] am not completely happy please get me out of right here to colombia.
Antonia”
In regards to the Letters
Reporter Mica Rosenberg requested detainees whether or not their kids can be keen to write down letters or draw photos 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 mentioned the dad and mom whose kids participated have been conscious that the letters can 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 potential, extra particulars just like the areas the place the households have been residing earlier than they have been detained. The size of time the kids 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.
