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Interfaith Welcome Coalition alerted to plans for ‘Ellis Island-type’ facilities at family detention centers

SAN ANTONIO – Known for its belief of “loving thy neighbor and welcoming a stranger,” the Interfaith Welcome Coalition was alerted to future plans for family detention centers in Dilley and Karnes City to become “Ellis Island-type” facilities. As it has in the past with other migrants arriving in San Antonio, Klein said IWC is staffed with volunteers “at all hours of day and night to welcome people.”Ad“We assist them with their travel plans. “This was a direct result of the new attitude and philosophy that was coming down from Washington,” Klein said. He said information about how the public can help IWC fulfill its on-going mission can be found on its website. Related Stories:Texas family detention centers expected to transform into rapid-processing hubsAsylum seekers navigate new future in the U.S. after months in MexicoDozens of asylum seekers from tent camp in Matamoros, Mexico enter the USAdSan Antonio sees releases from detention centers, at border

Three Texans in Congress exposed to COVID-19 while at detention center

WASHINGTON Dilley, TX August 23, 2019: The entrance for the privately-run U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) South Texas Family Residential Facility outside Dilley. Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneThree Texas members of Congress were potentially exposed to COVID-19 while touring a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in south Texas on Monday, but all have tested negative for the virus. "U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) notified Members of Congress, who recently visited the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, that an ICE employee tested positive for COVID-19," said Paige D. Hughes, an ICE spokesperson, said in a statement. ICE made the notification out of an abundance of caution, since the employee who tested positive assisted on the tour," she added. To date, 2 employees at STFRC have tested positive for COVID-19."

Judge orders ICE to free migrant children from family detention during coronavirus pandemic, report says

The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley is one of two family immigrant detention centers in Texas. Laura Skelding for The Texas TribuneAs the coronavirus spreads in detention centers, a federal judge ordered the release of migrant children held for more than 20 days at three family detention centers in Texas and Pennsylvania, the Associated Press reported Friday. More than 2,500 detainees have tested positive for COVID-19 while in ICE custody, the AP reported. ICE has said it has released more than 900 detainees with increased medical risks and de-densified the detainee populations at the three family detention centers in Texas and Pennsylvania. But according to the agency in May, most people in family detention are considered flight risks because of pending deportation orders or cases under review.

Detained in isolation, migrant families fear catching virus

Before her death, 21-month-old Mariee Juarez was detained at Dilley with her mother, Yazmin Juarez, in March 2018. His aunt alleged Dilley medical staff was disregarding the child's severe headaches and hypersensitivity to sound. A COVID-19 outbreak is already present in the facility or will soon be," said Shalyn Fluharty, director of Proyecto Dilley, a legal services group that represents detained families. About 160 people are currently detained at the Dilley facility, well short of its 2,400-person capacity. There is a clear solution, which is the release of families who are currently detained, Fluharty said.

Border Patrol agents arrest former Texas police chief for smuggling undocumented immigrants, affidavit states

Border Patrol agent speaks to the driver of a tractor-trailer passing through the Laredo North vehicle checkpoint in Laredo, Texas, on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Nomaan Merchant)LAREDO, Texas – The former interim police chief of Dilley was arrested after admitting to transporting undocumented people across a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Laredo, according to a criminal complaint obtained by KSAT and local media reports. When the U.S. Border Patrol agent asked Fonseca-Saldivar if there were any other occupants in the tractor, he responded, “I’m the only person here,” according to the criminal complaint. The three people and Fonseca-Saldivar were arrested by the agents and taken into Border Patrol custody for further investigation. AdThe criminal complaint states Jonathan Antillon-Salgado, a citizen of Mexico and material witness in the case, told agents he made arrangements to be smuggled into the U.S. for $3,000.

See what it looks like inside the ICE facility in Dilley

DILLEY – KSAT 12 reporter Tiffany Huertas toured Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas on Thursday. ICE officials prohibited members of the media from recording audio or video while inside the facility on Thursday. Officials also prohibited members of the media from talking to families staying at the residential center. After leaving the residential center, Tiffany journaled her experience:A young girl smiles as she eats lunch in the cafeteria. At this time, a video plays in different languages on the wall about “know your rights.”It’s lunchtime at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.