Celebrity Activism Against ICE Facilities
A group of well-known figures, including Ben Stiller, Edward Norton, and Madonna, is urging the Department of Homeland Security to close ICE facilities in Texas and relocate undocumented immigrants back to their communities. They’re advocating for this shift through a Change.org petition which has garnered over 200,000 signatures. The focus is on the Dilley ICE Detention Center, established in 2014 during Barack Obama’s presidency.
The facility was temporarily closed by President Joe Biden in 2024 but was reopened by President Donald Trump in 2025.
Children in Detention
Prominent liberal celebrities are voicing their concerns, accusing ICE of unjustly detaining children.
“No child should be locked up in an immigration detention center,” the petition states, pushing for immediate action to close the Dilley facility and reunite families.
It claims children in this center “endure trauma, neglect, and conditions that violate basic standards of health, safety, dignity, and human rights.”
Conditions Reported
Complaints have surfaced about the facility, detailing issues such as unsafe medical neglect, poor food quality, and inadequate access to legal counsel. These claims, highlighted in recent court documents, point towards severe conditions faced by children in ICE custody.
Government Response
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed back against these accusations, describing them as an attempt by the media to undermine immigration reform.
Dilley meets federal detention standards and undergoes regular audits and inspections. The center has been modified to ensure safety and security for families, providing meals, clean water, and other necessities.
DHS emphasized that individuals in these facilities have the option to leave voluntarily if they can legally return home.
The petition reiterates: “Children’s place is in schools and playgrounds, not in detention centers.”
Other celebrities joining the cause include Alyssa Milano, Eva Longoria, John Legend, and Jane Fonda.
