Rep. Menefee Conducts Oversight Visit at Dilley Immigration Processing Center, Calls for Facility’s Closure
DILLEY, TEXAS — Today, Rep. Christian D. Menefee (TX-18) joined Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) in conducting an oversight visit to Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas.
Following the visit, Rep. Menefee called for \the closure of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the largest family immigration detention center in the United States, citing disturbing firsthand accounts of mistreatment, inadequate medical care, and harmful living conditions for children and parents held at the facility.
During the oversight visit, Members met with officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and facility operators before touring detention areas and speaking directly with detainees. While facility officials described conditions as safe and humane, Members heard and saw a starkly different reality from the families being held inside.
Detainees described significant weight loss from inedible food, delayed and inadequate medical treatment, unreliable internet access that left families unable to communicate with loved ones or legal counsel, and a lack of educational resources for children. Members also heard deeply troubling accounts of family separation, deteriorating mental health, and prolonged uncertainty that has left many families in crisis.
“There were glaring inconsistencies between what facility officials told us and what detainees described,” Congressman Menefee said. “We heard story after story about untreated medical conditions, food that makes people sick, and children suffering physically and emotionally. What I saw today was disturbing, and what I heard was even worse. No family should be treated this way in the United States of America.”
Rep. Menefee emphasized that immigration enforcement should prioritize genuine public safety threats, not families with no violent criminal history seeking a better life.
“What we saw today were mothers, fathers, and children being subjected to cruel and degrading treatment,” Rep. Menefee continued. “These are human beings. They deserve dignity, due process, and basic humanity. What is happening inside this facility is unacceptable. This will not be my last visit. We cannot look away. We must close this facility, reunite families, and build an immigration system that reflects our American values.”
In March, Rep. Menefee visited the Houston Contract Detention Facility to examine the impact of the Administration’s immigration policies firsthand. He remains committed to pushing for a more humane immigration process, stronger oversight, and meaningful reform of the nation’s detention system.
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About Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18)
Rep. Christian D. Menefee represents Texas’s 18th Congressional District, covering communities across the Houston area. He was sworn into office on February 2, 2026.