DPS Troopers Confront Protesters at Dilley ICE Detention Facility
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers confronted protesters at the Dilley ICE detention facility on January 28, 2026. The gathering aimed to raise awareness about a five-year-old boy detained at the facility, generating significant media attention.
DPS Troopers Mobilize in Riot Gear
Approximately 40 DPS troopers arrived at the site in riot gear, traveling on a Dilley Independent School District bus. As tensions escalated, confrontations between law enforcement and demonstrators intensified. Protesters formed a line just feet from the troopers, escalating the situation near the South Texas Family Residential Center.
Crowd Control Measures Employed
Protesters reported that DPS troopers used pepper spray and other crowd control measures. Angel Garza, a supporter of immigrant families, criticized the law enforcement response as excessive. He mentioned how officers began using pepper spray without apparent provocation.
- Protesters aided each other in flushing their eyes with water after exposure to chemical irritants.
- Some individuals were arrested on charges including resisting arrest and interfering with public duties.
The DPS stated that troopers acted based on a request from the City of Dilley, describing the event as a planned protest. After issuing dispersal orders, the DPS reported that roughly 150 demonstrators refused to leave and began breaching protest barriers.
Voices of the Protest
Dozens of protesters remained outside the facility, demanding the release of the detained child and raising concerns about the treatment of families in immigration detention. Sheila Vasquez, an art teacher from San Antonio, crafted a large sculpture of a bird, symbolizing hope for those inside the center. She expressed her hope that the children might see the sculpture and know that people care about their plight.
National Attention and Legislative Response
The case involving the five-year-old boy has garnered attention from immigration and civil rights advocates. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the child was taken into custody after his father fled, and his mother is not currently in U.S. custody. The situation was further complicated when a federal judge in San Antonio declined to order the child’s release, citing the court’s lack of authority while the case is ongoing.
- U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett were among those advocating for the boy’s release.
- They described the conditions in the detention center as “inhumanity.”
The South Texas Family Residential Center has been a subject of debate surrounding immigration detention practices. The facility had closed during the Biden administration but reopened the prior year, continuing to attract scrutiny and protests.
