Joel Andre, a 17-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his family were detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, after seeking asylum in the United States. Joel and his younger sister, Estafania, were released in March 2026, but their older sister, Olivia, remains in detention. The family fled the Congo due to political persecution, and their lawyer, Elora Mukherjee, stated that they complied with all legal requirements upon their arrival in the U.S.
Reports from Mukherjee indicate that conditions at the Dilley center are inadequate, with detainees citing insufficient clean drinking water and unsanitary food. Congressman Joaquin Castro has criticized the treatment of detained children, stating that they are being treated like criminals despite being asylum seekers. He has called for the closure of the facility.
Dilley has been operational since 2014, initially opened under President Obama and later reopened by President Trump in 2025, with a contract awarded to CoreCivic for its management. CoreCivic has denied allegations of poor conditions. The Flores Settlement mandates the prompt release of children from detention, but reports suggest that this has not been adhered to in many cases. Congressman Castro visited Dilley recently and expressed concern over the lack of healthcare and education for the children detained there.
