DILLEY, Texas — Democratic Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett journeyed to a facility in Texas holding a 5-year-old boy and his father, whose detention has triggered protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies. The representatives intend to meet with the family and address concerns regarding the welfare of other detainees in a facility that has faced allegations of poor conditions.
Outside the South Texas Family Residential Center, dozens of protesters displayed signs and flags, while detainees staged a demonstration inside over the weekend. Castro expressed the hope that the facility would allow them to conduct their congressional duties and check on the welfare of those held within.
This visit falls under the Democrats' strategy to highlight the implications of the current immigration enforcement policies leading up to the midterms. Although past attempts by members of Congress to gain access to such facilities faced rejection, Castro noted that detainees have been permitted to sign up for meetings with him and Crockett.
The duo's travels come after 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were detained in Minneapolis during an expansive operation that stirred significant controversy and protests within the community. A federal judge recently issued an order preventing their removal as legal challenges to their detention are underway.
Democrats have called attention to the troubling lack of access granted to Congress regarding ICE facilities, with prior attempts being obstructed by the Department of Homeland Security citing new policy protocols. Reps. Angie Craig, Kelly Morrison, and Ilhan Omar were previously denied entry in Minneapolis.
The congressional delegation's efforts are underscored by escalating calls for accountability from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whom some lawmakers accuse of running an enforcement operation lacking basic legality. Crockett, along with others, has called for Noem’s impeachment relating to her handling of immigration policies.
The political climate surrounding these issues remains electric, with several Senate Democrats voicing a commitment to halting funding for DHS amidst concerns over its operations, especially following a tragic event in which a healthcare worker was killed amid related protests.
