Catholic Leaders Urge Humane Immigration Policies as Report Shows Sharp Rise in Child Detentions
Catholic immigrant advocates across the United States are calling for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement following the release of a report that found a dramatic increase in the detention of children by federal authorities. The findings have intensified concern among Church leaders, who warn that current policies are inflicting lasting harm on vulnerable families.
According to investigative reporting, the number of children held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley has increased more than sixfold since President Donald Trump returned to office. From January to October 2025, an average of 170 children per day were detained at the facility, with some days seeing more than 400 minors in custody. By comparison, daily averages during the final period of the previous administration stood at around 25 children.
Catholic leaders say the numbers are alarming, especially as several recent cases have highlighted the personal toll of detention on young children. One such case involved five year old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained with his father after returning home from preschool in a Minneapolis suburb. The pair were taken into custody in January and transferred to the Dilley facility in Texas, where they remained until a federal judge ordered their release, ruling their detention unconstitutional.
David Spicer, policy and engagement director for the Secretariat of Migration at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the situation underscores the need for policies rooted in human dignity and solidarity. He reiterated the bishops’ longstanding opposition to family detention, arguing that community based alternatives are both more humane and more effective in ensuring compliance with immigration proceedings.
The report also documented similar cases involving school aged children. Elizabeth Zuna, a fourth grader from Minnesota, spent a month in detention with her mother before being released in early February. Other children from the same school district remain in custody. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has appealed to federal authorities for their release, citing concerns including reports of a measles outbreak at the facility.
Data cited in the investigation shows that many individuals held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have no criminal convictions. As of late January, more than 70,000 people were in ICE custody, with nearly three quarters lacking any criminal record. Advocates say this raises serious questions about the necessity and proportionality of detention, particularly when children are involved.
Carolina Rivera, a federal immigration advocate with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, said the report reveals a troubling lack of communication from government agencies. She noted that litigation has increasingly become the only avenue for families seeking relief, as advocacy efforts often go unanswered.
Church leaders have also voiced concern over the emotional and psychological impact of detention. Court documents and testimony from parents describe children suffering from anxiety, depression, and withdrawal. Advocates warn that continued detention under such conditions could lead to tragic outcomes.
In Texas, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller described the detention of young children as deeply traumatic. Speaking after Liam’s release, he said the child became quiet, withdrawn, and stopped eating while in custody. He called on authorities to treat migrants with compassion, stressing that innocent families should never be subjected to harm based on profiling or fear.
Catholic leaders insist that immigration enforcement and respect for the law need not come at the expense of humanity. They continue to urge policies that protect children, preserve families, and reflect the moral responsibility to care for the most vulnerable.
