Detainees and Children Describe Conditions Inside Texas Immigration Facility as Scrutiny Intensifies
An Irish national detained at an immigration facility in El Paso, Texas, says he fears for his safety inside the center, describing conditions that he and others characterize as unsanitary, restrictive, and psychologically distressing. His account comes as investigative outlet ProPublica has published handwritten letters from eight children being held in the same facility, raising renewed questions about oversight, detention standards, and the treatment of migrants awaiting immigration proceedings.
The detainee, Sheamus Coloulton, who previously lived in Boston, told an Irish radio station that he has been held for five months while navigating the immigration process. Coloulton reportedly overstayed a 90-day visa but is married to a U.S. citizen and had been pursuing legal status. According to his account, he was nearing the final stages of his case when he was detained and transferred to the El Paso facility.
“I’m in fear for my life here,” Coloulton said in the radio interview, describing uncertainty about daily conditions and interactions with staff. He alleged that detainees are largely confined indoors, with limited access to outdoor space and minimal opportunities for recreation. His statements have not been independently verified by federal authorities, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not publicly responded to the specific allegations.
Coloulton compared the facility to “a modern-day concentration camp,” a term that advocates and critics of immigration enforcement have sometimes used to describe large-scale detention centers. ICE has consistently rejected such characterizations, stating that facilities are subject to federal standards and inspections, and that detainees are provided meals, medical care, and legal access in accordance with federal law.
According to Coloulton’s account, detainees are housed in large temporary structures, with several hundred individuals assigned to each tent-like unit. He said he has been confined indoors for most of his detention, with limited fresh air or sunlight. He also described small meal portions, restricted commissary access, and sanitation issues in shared bathrooms and showers.
His case has drawn attention in Ireland as well as in U.S. immigration circles, where advocates argue that prolonged detention for individuals with pending legal cases raises due process concerns. Under federal law, immigration violations are generally civil infractions rather than criminal offenses. However, federal authorities maintain that detention is a lawful tool used to ensure individuals appear for immigration hearings or removal proceedings.
The scrutiny has intensified following ProPublica’s recent report publishing handwritten letters from children held at the same El Paso facility. The letters, written in Spanish and translated into English, describe sadness, anxiety, and a longing to return to school and family life.
One nine-year-old from Venezuela wrote that he missed his school and friends and felt he had been detained “too long.” A 14-year-old from Honduras described feelings of depression and questioned why children were being detained for extended periods. A seven-year-old expressed a desire to return to school, while a 12-year-old wrote about repeated visits to medical staff that resulted only in advice to “drink more water.” Another child reportedly wrote that they were unhappy and wanted to return to their home country.
ProPublica reported that several of the children had been held for more than 45 days, with one detained for over 100 days. Child welfare experts have long cautioned that prolonged detention can have lasting psychological effects, particularly for minors.
ICE policies state that families are generally detained together and that facilities housing minors must meet specific federal standards. In past statements, the agency has said it provides educational programming, medical services, and recreational opportunities for children in family residential centers. Advocacy groups, however, argue that even short-term detention can be harmful to children’s mental health.
The El Paso facility highlighted in the reports previously drew attention during the detention of a minor identified publicly as Liam Ramos. According to news accounts, a member of Congress intervened in that case after concerns were raised about the child’s condition.
Debate over immigration detention has become increasingly polarized. Supporters of stricter enforcement argue that detention is necessary to manage border flows and ensure compliance with immigration proceedings. They contend that releasing migrants without supervision can lead to missed court dates and undermines immigration law enforcement.
Critics counter that detention is overused and that alternatives such as community supervision programs or expanded immigration courts could reduce the need for confinement. They also point to the significant federal funding allocated for detention operations, arguing that resources could instead be directed toward processing cases more efficiently.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has previously stated that it is committed to humane treatment and transparency, while emphasizing its responsibility to enforce federal immigration laws.
As the accounts from El Paso circulate internationally, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle face renewed pressure to examine the role of detention in immigration policy. For now, the detainees’ letters and personal testimonies are adding human detail to a debate often framed in political and legal terms.
Whether the reports will prompt policy changes remains unclear. But the stories emerging from inside the facility have reignited questions about oversight, due process, and how the United States balances enforcement with humanitarian considerations.
