Congressman Castro Visits San Antonio Dad in ICE Detention, Provides Update on Conditions

Congressman Castro Visits San Antonio Dad in ICE Detention, Provides Update on Conditions

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the following statement after visiting the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center to meet with San Antonio father Octavio Daniel Cabrera Valdez, other detained individuals, and to inspect conditions:

"There are incredible abuses going on at ICE detention centers like the one I visited today in Karnes City, Texas. Most people locked away at Karnes have not committed a crime, came to the U.S. legally, and have done everything the right way.

"Folks detained told me they had been served food with worms and spoiled milk. Fathers like Octavio are kept away from their children and families. Mothers, like the postpartum woman I spoke with, had not seen her newborn. She was bleeding and didn't get any medical treatment. It's cruelty for cruelty's sake.

"All the while, contractors and private companies like Geo Group are making millions. We must keep pushing back against Trump's mass deportation campaign that is tearing apart communities and families."

After his visit to Karnes, Congressman Castro went live on Instagramto provide an update on:

• Octavio Daniel Cabrera Valdez - "He was living in San Antonio for many years. He has siblings that are U.S. citizens. He has two young kids who miss him a lot-was working hard….We checked on him. We told him we talked to his family, of course how much they miss him, and that we're trying to be helpful on his case."
• Postpartum Mother Facing Medical Issues- "I also talked to a woman, Marling, and she talked about how she's in her late 20s, and she has a son, a young son who is living with her husband. She got to Karnes, I believe, shortly after she had given birth. She's not been able to see her son. So she's only seen him on video-not been able to visit with him."
• Contaminated Food - "There's a gentleman we met with who was talking about sometimes the food is unsuitable, and that they've come across worms in the lettuce, for example. They've come across spoiled milk."