‘Why Is This Happening to Us?’ Daily Number of Kids in ICE Detention Jumps 6x Under Trump
The number of children held in ICE detention has increased more than sixfold since Trump took office, rising from an average of 25 children per day under the Biden administration to 170 per day under Trump, with some days seeing over 400 children detained — primarily at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, which Biden had closed in 2024 but Trump revived. Lawyers, advocates, and a visiting congressman describe horrific conditions inside Dilley, including moldy and worm-filled food, undrinkable water, inadequate medical care, and severe psychological deterioration among children, with at least 1,000 children held longer than the court-ordered 20-day limit. Individual cases highlight the breadth of the crisis: 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was found sleeping in his father's arms, depressed and asking about his classmates; a child with appendicitis was left writhing in pain and given only Tylenol; and a family including 5-year-old twins has been detained for eight months, with the eldest daughter reportedly moved to a separate area of the facility after speaking to the press about their ordeal. Lawyers say many detained families have pending legal cases that could allow them to remain in the U.S. and pose no safety threat, and advocates warn that the dangerous conditions make it only a matter of time before a child dies in custody.