Immigration centers are ‘living hell’ for children, US documents reveal horrific images

South Texas Family Residential Center, an immigration center in Dili, Texas.

Documents filed in court have revealed the horrific images of the lives of immigrant families detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center, an immigration center in Dili, Texas. Migrants said that children are being held there for long periods of time. There is a lack of adequate food and safe water, and they are even pressured and lured into leaving the country voluntarily.

According to these ‘court declarations’ filed early Tuesday, at least 160 families are being held at the center, many of whom crossed the US-Mexico border or were detained during routine searches by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at various checkpoints and immigration agencies inside the United States.

Although the detention center was originally established as a “family residential center,” migrants living there described it as a virtual prison. “It’s a prison—a living hell. All the children and teenagers are suffering here. The mothers are crying, especially for their children,” a 29-year-old mother said in a court statement. Migrant rights activists have complained that the children are not being given enough food and that the food is contaminated with contaminated ingredients.

“Families have reported that there are insects and mold in the food. The children are becoming weak, pale, and crying from hunger,” said Licia Welch, deputy director of the Children’s Rights Organization. “My daughter doesn’t play as much as she used to, she doesn’t eat properly. She’s lost weight because of the stress,” said a 26-year-old mother detained with her five-year-old daughter.

“The children here are very depressed when they see their friends being deported.” They are tired of the monotonous routine every day.’ The detainees complained that there is an acute shortage of clean drinking water. The tap water is foul-smelling and drinking it causes sore throats and stomach problems.

A mother said, ‘You can’t drink water here. It smells, your stomach hurts. If you want water, they say, ‘If you don’t like it, buy it from the store.’ Another teenager said, ‘They only give you apple juice and milk all day long. There is no water. Drinking tap water hurts my throat.’

One of the most serious allegations in the newly filed court documents is that detained families are being forced to sign papers related to ‘voluntary repatriation.’ One mother recounted, ‘They said, if you sign this paper, you will pay me $1,000. And if I don’t sign it, I will never be able to enter the United States again.’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, claimed in a report filed with the court that it has made improvements in food, water and lighting. Brita filters have been installed and the room lighting has been changed to a comfortable white light, although the light remains on all night.

The ICE report says, “A foundation of transparency and accountability has been built in the care of children and families through regular monitoring and training.” But immigration lawyers say the government’s claims are completely at odds with reality. Many mothers have asked the court to at least release their children to relatives in the United States, even if the parents are detained.

“I want my son to be able to finish his schooling, to fight his case in freedom. This is not an easy decision for a mother to make,” said one mother.