Rep. Tony Gonzales defended the conditions at a Texas immigration detention center on Sunday, describing it as “nicer than some elementary schools.” His remarks come amid reports of a measles outbreak within the facility, where five-year-old Liam Ramos was held. Critics, including immigration activists, have raised concerns about safety and living conditions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center.
During an appearance on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, stated, “I’ve visited dozens of facilities. It is a nice facility. It’s a detention facility for people that are in the country illegally that are about to be deported, but it is a nice facility.” He did not provide further details regarding the center’s conditions, which is the only immigration detention facility in the United States that houses children and families. Activists have labeled these conditions as unsafe, according to the Texas Tribune.
In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the suspension of all movement at the Dilley center after two detainees were reported to have active measles infections. Gonzales addressed the case of Ramos, who, along with his parents, entered the U.S. using the now-defunct CBP One app. He argued that Ramos would not qualify for asylum, expressing empathy for the child’s situation. “It breaks my heart,” Gonzales said. “I have a five-year-old at home. I also think, what about that five-year-old U.S. citizen?”
Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were detained in January during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge, aimed at undocumented immigrants in the Minneapolis area. This operation has faced scrutiny following reports of two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, losing their lives during related enforcement actions. The commander-at-large of the Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino, who led the operation, has since left Minneapolis.
Gonzales emphasized that feeling compassion does not hinder the enforcement of immigration laws. “Let’s enforce our laws, but let’s do it in a humane way,” he stated. The approach to immigration policy under President Trump has sparked backlash, particularly as Democratic candidates make significant gains in elections, including in Texas. Recent victories by Democrats Taylor Rehmet and Chasity Verret Martinez in special state elections highlight this shift, occurring in districts that Trump won by substantial margins.
Polling data from CBS News indicate that while 50% of the public support Trump’s immigration goals, only 37% approve of his methods for conducting deportation operations. Gonzales suggested that a more effective communication strategy is needed. “If you go into a jail and you go cell by cell, that makes a lot more sense to American people than going house by house,” he remarked.
As the deadline approaches for funding the DHS, congressional Democrats are calling for revisions in how the agency, along with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), manages immigration operations. Proposed changes include judicial warrant requirements for home entries, mandatory body cameras for agents, and the display of identification.
Gonzales acknowledged the potential benefits of body cameras but cautioned against requiring judicial warrants, claiming that some judges exceed their authority and impede necessary law enforcement actions. “Administrative warrants work,” he asserted. “I want to give law enforcement every tool they need to go out and apprehend these convicted criminals that are loose in our community.”
The ongoing debate over immigration policies continues to evolve, with significant implications for communities and enforcement practices across the country.
