Story perspectives

Congress Members Demand ICE Disbandment Over Detainee Conditions

1/31/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett called for disbanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Antonio.
They cited Dilley Immigration Processing Center’s conditions, noting that 1,100 detainees, including children, are held and that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos is depressed.
They condemned the private prison industry profiting from detention and urged Congress to reject ICE funding in a $64 billion Homeland Security package including $10 billion for ICE.

History

Historical Context

The Dilley Immigration Processing Center opened in 2014 to accommodate a surge of unaccompanied minors from Central America, with apprehensions rising nearly 80% from 2013 to 2014. Managed by CoreCivic, the facility's capacity reached 2,400, raising concerns over detainee treatment. Recent calls from Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett to disband ICE highlight ongoing criticism of the private prison industry's practices and the urgent need for immigration reform.

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Story summary

U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett called for disbanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Antonio.
They cited Dilley Immigration Processing Center’s conditions, noting that 1,100 detainees, including children, are held and that 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos is depressed.
They condemned the private prison industry profiting from detention and urged Congress to reject ICE funding in a $64 billion Homeland Security package including $10 billion for ICE.

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