US immigration detention facilities face child detentions and overcrowding under Trump

During Donald Trump’s second term, more than 6,200 minors were detained by US immigration authorities, with nearly half held at the Dilley, Texas family detention center—the only such facility in the nation. The center, reopened by Trump after being closed under the Biden administration, is run by for‑profit CoreCivic under a $180 million annual contract.

Separately, newly released documents show ICE officers alarmed by severe overcrowding at a makeshift detention space on the 10th floor of Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza. Officials described conditions as “insane” and “unsafe,” reporting the facility housed at least 200 detainees—far exceeding its design capacity—and lacked basic amenities. A federal judge is considering shutting the facility down amid ongoing litigation.

Both reports highlight systemic issues in US immigration detention practices during the Trump era, including the use of private contractors and inadequate facilities for vulnerable populations.