Joel Andre is a 17-year-old immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo, now living near Portland, Maine. He loves soccer, but this summer, his focus is on the World Cup with his younger sister, Estafania. For them, it’s a welcome distraction from the challenges they’re facing.
Last November, Joel, Estafania, and their mother, Carine, were detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. Their 19-year-old sister, Olivia, was left behind when they were released in March. “We all went like, why? Why?” Joel recalls.
The family fled the Congo after Carine, an activist, faced violence for speaking out against the government. Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrants Rights Clinic at Columbia University, emphasizes the risk they faced: “If they hadn’t left, chances are they wouldn’t be alive.”
Upon their arrival in the U.S. in 2022, the family was vetted and allowed to wait for their hearing. They complied with all requirements, but in February 2025, a judge ordered their deportation. Fearing a return to the Congo, they attempted to seek safety in Canada but were denied entry and sent back to the U.S., where they were detained.
Mukherjee, who has been inside Dilley, notes, “It is a series of trailers.” Families report inadequate access to clean drinking water and poor food quality. “The lights are on 24/7, making it hard for everyone to sleep.”
Dilley has seen over 6,300 children detained, many without any criminal record. Congressman Joaquin Castro criticizes the system: “It’s the only place I can think of in America where we imprison young children who have done absolutely nothing wrong.” The Dilley center opened in 2014 under President Obama, then closed during Biden’s term. It was reopened under President Trump, and now a for-profit company, CoreCivic, manages it.
CoreCivic denies allegations of substandard conditions. They argue that the facility meets federal standards. However, the accounts from detainees paint a different picture. Over the years, many have composed sworn testimonies and letters describing their experiences.
Recent statistics reveal that many children, including infants, have been detained under harsh conditions. The Flores Settlement, a federal order requiring prompt release of children, has often been violated. Joel expressed disbelief that legal protections weren’t upheld, asking, “Yes. But they broke all those laws.”
Waiting for answers, Castro visited Dilley multiple times and shared heart-wrenching stories from the children he met. “These kids, they’re hugging my leg and they’re asking me to get ’em outta there,” he lamented.
The Biden administration’s 2027 budget proposal suggests increasing beds in family detention centers, highlighting an ongoing concern for many activists. With thousands of children detained, there’s a growing urgency for transparency and reform in the system.
Mukherjee believes widespread awareness is vital: “Americans don’t yet know what is happening at the Family Detention Center in Dilley. Once more people know, they will feel motivated to speak out.”
For Joel and Estafania, the story took a positive turn when Olivia was finally released after five months. Their reunion offered a glimpse of hope amidst a troubling reality. Yet, Congressman Castro insists their experience is an exception, not the norm.
“It’s crucial we shine a light on what’s happening behind those walls. There’s a brutality we need to confront,” he asserts.
Understanding these stories helps us grasp the complexities of immigration and detention. As conditions remain a topic of heated debate, raising awareness is the first step toward change.
For more insights on immigration policies and conditions, you can refer to the ongoing reports by NPR and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Read more about conditions in detention centers here.
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