Infant Juan Nicolás Deported From Dilley Detention Center After Hospitalization, Family Leaves United States

Updated 2026-02-18 02:07:07+00:00 (2 articles)

Image: Newsweek

FILE – Immigrants seeking asylum walk through the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on Aug. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

FILE – Immigrants seeking asylum walk through the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, on Aug. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) Source Full size

Detention and Hospitalization Timeline — Juan Nicolás, a two‑month‑old, was held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley for roughly three and a half weeks when persistent respiratory problems escalated, rendering him unresponsive and prompting an emergency hospital transfer. He was discharged around midnight, returned briefly to the detention center, and then removed from ICE custody together with his mother, 16‑month‑old sister, and father; officials have not disclosed the family’s final destination [1].

Political Reaction and Public Disclosure — Texas Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro announced on X that, after consulting the family’s attorney, the entire family had been deported, noting they left with only $190 in commissary funds and labeling the action “heinous.” Castro’s post provided the first public confirmation of the deportation and underscored concerns about the treatment of vulnerable detainees [1].

Criticism of Pediatric Care at CoreCivic Facility — Advocates and medical experts have repeatedly warned that the privately operated Dilley center, run by CoreCivic, lacks adequate pediatric services, has reported measles cases, serves contaminated food, and offers limited education. DHS and CoreCivic counter that detainees receive proper medical care and basic necessities, but the infant’s severe illness and subsequent deportation have intensified scrutiny of the facility’s health protocols [1].

Legal Context and Ongoing Oversight Calls — The Biden administration ended family detention in 2021, yet the practice was reinstated under former President Donald Trump, prompting renewed legislative and legal challenges. A separate lawsuit filed by Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic alleges medication denial for another infant, Amalia, highlighting systemic issues; DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin denied the claim, asserting appropriate treatment. These developments fuel calls for stricter oversight of family detention and pediatric care standards [1].

Sources

1.
Newsweek: 2‑Month‑Old Infant Deported from Dilley Detention Center After Hospitalization: Reports deportation of Juan Nicolás and his family, details of his illness, hospital stay, and criticism of the facility’s pediatric care, highlighting political and legal reactions.
2026-02-18 02:07:07+00:00

Timeline

2020 – Former President Donald Trump reinstates family detention, expanding privately run facilities such as the CoreCivic‑operated South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, which later becomes the focus of intense scrutiny. [2]

2021 – The Biden administration ends family detention, marking a policy shift that is later reversed, fueling ongoing debates over the legality and humanity of detaining migrant families. [2]

Mid‑Jan 2026 – Federal agents seize a father from his Minneapolis driveway, label him an “illegal alien” from Ecuador, and fly him and his 5‑year‑old son Liam to the Dilley detention center, initiating the family’s confinement. [1]

Jan 28 2026 – Rep. Joaquin Castro visits Dilley, publicly demands Liam’s release, reports “putrid” water, bug‑contaminated food, and lockdowns, and notes that attorneys say detainees are locked in their rooms; he adds that Texas lawmakers join protests calling for humane treatment. [1]

Jan 28 2026 – Hundreds of demonstrators gather outside Dilley, confront state troopers in riot gear who deploy gas after objects are thrown, highlighting escalating tension over the center’s conditions. [1]

Jan 28 2026 – A federal judge issues an immediate stay on any removal or transfer of Liam and his father, temporarily blocking deportation while litigation proceeds. [1]

Early Feb 2026 – Two‑month‑old Juan Nicolás experiences worsening respiratory problems, is hospitalized, discharged, and returned to Dilley before being removed from ICE custody with his mother, sister, and father after roughly 3½ weeks of detention. [2]

Feb 18 2026 – Rep. Joaquin Castro posts on X that the family has been deported with only $190 in commissary funds, labeling the action “heinous” and confirming the removal of the infant and his relatives from the United States. [2]

Feb 2026 – Advocates and medical experts continue to criticize the CoreCivic‑run Dilley center for inadequate pediatric care, citing measles cases, contaminated food, and limited education, while DHS and CoreCivic assert detainees receive proper medical treatment. [2]

2026 (ongoing) – Columbia Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic files a lawsuit alleging that 18‑month‑old Amalia was denied prescribed medication after a 10‑day hospitalization, underscoring systemic failures in pediatric care at Dilley. [2]