The Biden administration plans to shut down Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s largest detention center, labeling it the “most expensive facility” in the nation, according to the New York Post. The South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, which can hold up to 2,400 illegal immigrants, is managed by the private prison contractor CoreCivic.
In a June 10 press release, ICE stated, “ICE continually reviews the overall detention capacity and in doing so, takes action to close certain facilities that no longer provide a sufficient return on investment. This includes closing the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, which is the most expensive facility in the national detention network.” The agency claimed it would reallocate funding to increase detention bed capacity by an estimated 1,600 beds nationwide.
This move comes amid a backdrop of approximately 7.4 million illegal aliens being released into the United States while they await court hearings, with many missing their court dates and now wanted for deportation. Despite the administration’s promises, the decision to close the Dilley facility seems more like a deliberate act of amnesty through inaction rather than a genuine effort to address the immigration crisis.
ICE Deputy Director Patrick J. Lechleitner commented, “We continue to evaluate contracts to ensure we are financially responsible and can increase removal flights and detention bed space capacity to support the dynamic immigration landscape while operating within the budget provided by Congress.” He added that the closure would supposedly provide an overall increase in bedspace, operating at or above the FY24 appropriated 41,500 minimum bed requirement while maximizing removal flights.
However, John Fabbricatore, a retired ICE Denver Field Office director, criticized the decision, calling it a “deliberate act of amnesty through inaction.” He described Biden’s recent executive order to curb illegal immigration as “nothing more than political theatre aimed at appeasing certain voter bases rather than addressing the real issues at hand.”
This closure is emblematic of the administration’s approach to immigration, prioritizing political optics over practical solutions. By shutting down a major detention center and reallocating resources, the Biden administration is failing to tackle the root problems of illegal immigration and border security, further undermining the nation’s ability to manage this critical issue effectively.
