Castro Pushes to End Child Detention and ICE Secrecy in Funding Bill

Castro Pushes to End Child Detention and ICE Secrecy in Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) submitted two amendments to the Senate's $70 billion reconciliation package, to end child detention and to reverse ICE's policy that makes it harder for Members of Congress to meet with detained individuals.

"Under Donald Trump, ICE has become a rogue and abusive agency. Masked agents are brutalizing our communities and locking away our children. ICE has become more secretive and has imposed punitive restrictions on Congressional oversight visits. My amendments would require ICE to facilitate meetings among Members of Congress and people in ICE facilities and end the detention of kids altogether. Child detention is leaving a dark stain on our nation's history, and we must push back against the administration's inhumane treatment of our most innocent," said Congressman Castro.

Background:

Congressman Castro has visited the Dilley Detention Center six times this year to conduct congressional oversight, report on conditions, and push for the release of detained individuals including children, women, men, and their families. As of the end of May, there are 97 children at the Dilley trailer prison, many of whom have been detained for longer than the 20-day limit for child detention as directed by the 1997 landmark Flores Settlement Agreement. Read the Prohibition of Family Detention (Amendment No. 115) amendment here.

ICE is also making it harder for Members of Congress to conduct oversight at ICE detention centers. On May 11, 2026, the Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons issued a memo restricting meetings at ICE detention facilities. The memo stated that ICE would only facilitate meetings between Members of Congress and detained individuals if the individual is identified by name at least two business days in advance and provides signed consent. Read the Congressional Access to Detained Individuals (Amendment No. 117) amendment here.