Sick Infant and Family Deported from Texas ICE Facility to Mexico

A 2-month-old baby boy named Juan Nicolás, who fell ill with bronchitis while held at an ICE detention center in Dilley, Texas, was deported to Mexico along with his parents and 16-month-old sister. The family had spent about three weeks at the South Texas Family Residential Center before U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro announced their removal late Tuesday. Castro raised alarms over the baby's health and the limited funds given to the family upon deportation.

Background

The Dilley facility sits in South Texas, about 80 miles south of San Antonio. It holds families caught crossing the border without papers. Run by a private company called CoreCivic, the center has space for thousands. It has drawn attention in recent months for health issues among detainees. Just weeks ago, officials reported measles cases there. A federal lawsuit claims some children stay past court limits. The place houses asylum seekers and others awaiting immigration hearings.

Juan Nicolás and his family arrived at the center around three weeks before the illness hit. His mother, Mireya, later spoke about the ordeal. The baby was the youngest child there. Guards took the family into custody as part of broader border enforcement. Over the past year, the facility has held hundreds of kids, including cases like 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was released after public pressure, and a 7-year-old Venezuelan girl named Maria Isabella, now living in Austin with her mother.

Rep. Castro, a Democrat from San Antonio, has tracked conditions at Dilley for months. He shared videos and updates on social media about other children there. His office stays in touch with families and lawyers. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, spoke at a San Antonio event Tuesday. He said border agents treat people humanely but called many reports overblown by media.

Key Details

The Baby's Illness and Hospital Trip

On Monday night, Juan Nicolás grew unresponsive and choked on vomit, his mother said. Staff at Dilley took him to the medical unit, but no doctor was on duty then. Around 10 p.m., facility workers drove him and his mother to a hospital in Pearsall, Texas, about 20 miles away. The Frio County Sheriff's Office confirmed the transport.

Doctors checked the baby for a respiratory infection. They found bronchitis. Hospital staff said he stayed alert and responsive. They did not admit him. He returned to Dilley around midnight Tuesday. ICE said medical teams kept watching his health there. The center has a clinic open 24/7 with emergency care.

Mireya told reporters her son needed more than what the facility offered. She said staff gave her only nasal drops for congestion. "The only thing they prescribed was a nasal liquid so I could clear his congestion, but he has bronchitis," she said.

"How am I supposed to feel okay in this situation? Impossible. I can't feel okay." – Mireya, the baby's mother

Deportation and Family's Departure

Hours after the hospital release, ICE removed the family. Castro said agents sent them back to Mexico with just $190 from their commissary account. That money covered small buys like snacks in detention. The family included the baby, his sister, mom, and dad.

Castro called the move harsh. His team talked to the family's lawyer. They now work to find the group in Mexico and check on their safety. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security gave a different account. A DHS statement said the child got full care from arrival. They claimed the family turned down $2,600 and a free flight home. DHS said on social media: "The only reason they’re in detention is because they choose to be in detention."

The mother's lawyer backed Castro's version on the funds. No one has said why the family faced deportation so soon after the illness. Records show the baby had been stable post-hospital.

What This Means

This case spotlights health care in immigration detention. Families with young kids face quick decisions on removal. Dilley holds over 2,000 people at times, mostly mothers and children. Past reports note overcrowding and illness outbreaks. A December ICE filing in a lawsuit showed hundreds of kids stayed longer than a 20-day limit set by courts.

Lawmakers like Castro push for better oversight. His staff demands details from ICE on the baby's whereabouts. Protests have called for releasing detained children. The facility says it meets standards, with doctors, dentists, and mental health help on site.

Broader enforcement ramps up border checks. More families end up in places like Dilley. Sen. Cornyn stressed oversight of Homeland Security sites. Conditions there affect U.S. policy on asylum and family separation. Advocates watch for patterns in sick detainees facing deportation.

Castro gave updates on other releases, like Liam and Maria Isabella. Both left Dilley after attention. Juan Nicolás' story adds to questions on medical capacity. His family now navigates life back in Mexico with little cash. Rep. Castro's office plans to keep pressing ICE for answers. Facility managers say they provide top care, better than some detainees knew before.