Stars of ‘Gilded Age’ and Pedro Pascal Call for Ending Texas Detention Facility for Kids
High-Profile Figures Advocate for Closure of Texas Immigration Detention Center
In the aftermath of widespread protests led by prominent figures such as Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, and Bruce Springsteen against Donald Trump’s administration, a coalition of celebrities is now focusing its efforts on shutting down an immigration detention facility in Texas.
The Dilley Immigration Processing Center has come under fire as activists amplify their voices against what they describe as inhumane conditions for detained children and families. Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda is among those signing a petition urging the immediate closure of the center. “No child should be locked in an immigration detention center,” the petition states, garnering support from other actors and entertainers including Pedro Pascal, Wunmi Mosaku, and Diego Luna.
The letter calls for an end to the detention of children and families, emphasizing that “children held in immigration detention endure trauma, neglect and conditions that violate basic standards of health, safety, dignity and human rights.” The petition’s signatories reflect a growing concern among public figures regarding the treatment of vulnerable populations within the immigration system.
Recent reports highlight alarming incidents occurring within the Dilley facility, including instances of disease and abuse. The center gained significant attention after five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was detained there. He had been arrested during a crackdown in Minneapolis, with authorities allegedly using him as leverage to apprehend his father, Adrian Conejo Arias.
Following intense media scrutiny, both Liam and his father were released on February 1. However, they remain entangled in ongoing deportation proceedings to Ecuador. Over the past month, advocates note a decrease in the number of families held at Dilley, yet protests have surged, spotlighting continued dissatisfaction with conditions at the facility.
Children’s educator and entertainer Ms. Rachel, known for her active opposition to ICE, echoed concerns regarding the treatment of children in detention. “Every child, everywhere, deserves to feel safe, to be cared for, and to be treated with dignity,” she stated. “We can all agree that no child should be locked in an immigration detention center and subjected to these cruel conditions.”
The petition urges the federal government to immediately close the Dilley facility and return children and families to their homes, calling for transparency and reform to prevent future abuses within the system.
As discussions about the ramifications of immigration policies continue, advocates remain vigilant, striving for an end to the practice of child detention in the United States.
