The Trump administration has reintroduced the practice of detaining families with children to strengthen immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security is reopening the Karnes and Dilley detention centers in Texas specifically for families, with some families already sent to the Karnes City facility. This move contrasts with the Biden administration’s shift away from family detention, opting to use the centers for holding adults instead.

Past administrations, including those of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, have also utilized family detention as a deterrent to southern border migration. The current administration’s stance emphasizes adherence to legal deportation orders, urging individuals to self-deport to comply with the law.

Despite advocacy groups condemning the increased family detentions due to their detrimental effects on children, the administration faces challenges in finding sufficient personnel and space for detaining individuals without legal status. Critics highlight the harmful outcomes, including abuse and psychological trauma experienced by detained children.

Private prison company CoreCivic has resumed operations at the Dilley facility under a new contract with ICE, anticipating a significant revenue increase to meet the government’s heightened demand for detention capacity. This expansion of detention facilities extends beyond Texas, with contracts in states like New Jersey, Ohio, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Mississippi also being expanded to accommodate increased immigration enforcement efforts.