Three months ago, Manpreet was looking forward to her 11th birthday party. Her brother Guri, 12, was excited about his class field trip for Black History Month. Now, their future seems uncertain. The siblings and their parents have been detained since February at the Dilley immigration processing center in Texas after they were taken into custody during a routine check-in appointment.
Family's Flight from Persecution
The family fled Punjab, India, because Jagdish, who had converted from Sikhism to Catholicism, faced persistent threats and violence due to his religion. They arrived in the US in 2022 seeking asylum and settled in central Los Angeles near Jagdish's brother. When they received a notice to check in at an immigration office, they assumed it was for updated photos of the children. Instead, an immigration officer informed them they were being detained. "In that moment, it was like my life force was sucked out of me," said Gurwinder, their mother.
Conditions at Dilley
The family joined more than 5,200 parents and children detained at Dilley since it reopened after Donald Trump resumed family detentions last year. Pediatricians, psychiatrists, and physicians have repeatedly warned that any amount of time in detention can harm children, and prolonged detention can cause profound physical and mental harm. Reports of conditions inside Dilley have sparked protests and national outrage. Celebrities including Madonna, Pedro Pascal, and children's educator Ms Rachel joined lawmakers in calling for an end to family detention.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) imposed quarantines after detecting at least two cases of measles. Parents have reported children catching respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal issues, vomiting, and other severe health complications. A nine-month-old lost 8lbs over a month; a child with a severe ear infection suffered partial hearing loss. Children have fallen asleep crying, developmentally regressed, and become anxious or listless. Older children have started bed-wetting again; teenagers have begun self-harming.
Family's Health Deteriorates
Each family member has been sick since arriving. Jagdish, who had a car accident before detention, experiences leg pain but receives only over-the-counter painkillers. Guri notices blood in his stools but cannot see a specialist. Manpreet has intense stomach pain and vomiting, which she attributes to tap water; symptoms subsided after she switched to bottled water. Gurwinder's arthritis has worsened; the facility cannot provide her usual medications, offering only ibuprofen and steroids, which complicate her diabetes. Each morning, Manpreet helps her mother out of bed, fixes her hair, and dresses her before they walk to the cafeteria.
Educational and Nutritional Challenges
The children have little appetite. At home, Manpreet enjoyed cooking; now they receive mystery meats and unseasoned vegetables. As Sikh-Hindus, they require vegetarian meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but no meat-free options are available, so they often go hungry. Manpreet, who had perfect attendance in Los Angeles, has stopped attending classes because the only class for her grade is in Spanish, which she does not understand. The library lacks age-appropriate English books. Guri stopped attending school as his mother's health declined, finding it hard to concentrate. He spends his days watching TV with his father or playing volleyball, but feels sad when friends leave, wishing his family could leave too.
Broader Context and Response
The daily population of children at Dilley dropped from over 450 in January to about 80 in March. The facility is operated by CoreCivic under a DHS contract. DHS did not respond to specific questions about schooling, food quality, or medical care. Acting DHS assistant secretary Lauren Bis stated that the agency generally provides three meals a day, education, and healthcare, and that there are no active measles cases. CoreCivic's Ryan Gustin disputed many claims but did not specify which, and said the company continually evaluates practices to ensure timely medical attention.
Jagdish cries thinking about his children's suffering, worrying they will blame him for fleeing India after his conversion. "I worry I came here to save myself, and I ended up ruining three lives," he said. Gurwinder feels helpless: "My kids' lives are being ruined. Their education is being messed up. But we don't know – what can we do?"
