What It’s Like to Protest ICE in the Shadow of Dilley Detention Center

The article focuses on the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, a detention facility operated by CoreCivic, in the town of Dilley, Texas. It describes attempts by local and outside protesters to draw attention to the center, including a 90-mile walk led by Pastor Dianne Garcia and a student walkout at nearby East Central High School. The article details the heavy-handed response from authorities, including the Texas Department of Public Safety using pepper spray on protesters and the Texas Education Agency threatening disciplinary action against teachers and administrators who allow student walkouts. It also profiles two high school students, Andrew and Kaily, who faced suspension and in-school detention for organizing and participating in the protest. The article paints a picture of a community heavily impacted by the presence of the detention center, with local residents feeling unsafe and activists struggling to make their voices heard. It highlights the ongoing legal and political battles over the facility, as well as the personal toll on the families detained there.