How to Get Released from a Detention Center in the USA – South Texas Family Residential Center (Family Resident Center)

South Texas Family Residential Center: Overview and Conditions of Detention
Location and History
The South Texas Family Residential Center, located in Dilley, Texas, was opened in December 2014. The center is one of the largest facilities designed to detain family groups, including adults and children, who are migrants awaiting decisions on asylum claims or deportation. The center's initial capacity was 480 individuals, but it can be expanded to accommodate up to 2,400 individuals when necessary.
Operators and Purpose of the Center
The center is managed by CoreCivic under a contract with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The primary purpose of the center is to detain families awaiting the resolution of their immigration cases. Despite its mission, the center has been criticized for its living conditions and cases of abuse.
Conditions of Detention
The South Texas Family Residential Center includes residential cottages, as well as medical and educational facilities. Living conditions can vary, and there have been reports of problems with cleanliness in some areas of the center. While the center provides basic accommodations, the quality of food is often considered inadequate, and access to hygiene products and showers is sometimes limited.
The center provides areas for physical activity, including playgrounds for children. However, access to these areas may be restricted depending on the time and circumstances.
Overcrowding and Sleeping Conditions
Reports indicate that the center periodically experiences overcrowding, especially during peak periods, which exacerbates the living conditions. Detainees are housed in shared rooms that can accommodate up to eight people, which creates additional challenges in maintaining personal space and sanitary conditions.
Daily Routine and Rules
A typical day at the center begins early in the morning and includes meals, activities, or rest periods. Curfew times can vary depending on the time of day. Detainees receive three meals a day and have the opportunity to participate in recreational activities such as sports or movie screenings.
Phone calls are limited in number, and detainees can communicate with the outside world only during specific hours. Visits from family members or attorneys are allowed daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, but each visit lasts no longer than 60 minutes.
Medical Care and Safety
Medical care is available at the center, including primary medical exams, but the quality of care has sometimes been criticized for being insufficient. There have been reports of a lack of medical attention and related emergency situations.
For safety, guards are employed at the center, and video surveillance systems are in place. The expected ratio of guards to detainees is 60:1. Despite this, there have been reports of violence and abuse in the facility, which raises concerns among human rights organizations.
Detention Duration and Statistics
The average length of detention at the center is approximately 20 days for women and children. In 2018, about 25,000 migrants passed through the center. Thousands of people are deported from the center each year, though the exact numbers vary from year to year. Success in asylum cases also depends on the individual circumstances, and many applicants face difficulties in receiving favorable decisions.
Release Conditions
Detainees at the center can apply for release through the court or request asylum. Release conditions may include bail, but the amount depends on the specific case and may be too high for many detainees.
Release for medical or humanitarian reasons is also possible but requires documentary proof of the detainee's health condition. Non-profit organizations and human rights groups assist detainees with the release process and legal support, but access to quality legal assistance remains limited.
Conclusion
The South Texas Family Residential Center is one of the largest family detention centers in the United States. While it provides some amenities and opportunities for detainees, the center has been criticized for overcrowding, poor living conditions, and inadequate medical care. Detainees face challenges in obtaining legal assistance and navigating the release process. In 2024, the possibility of closing the center was announced due to the high costs of its operation, highlighting the need for reforms in the immigration detention system.