South Texas Family Residential Center
Definition
A large immigrant detention facility located in Dilley, Texas, specifically designed to house families (parents and minor children) during immigration processing by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Operated by the private prison company CoreCivic under contract with ICE, it is the largest family residential center in the United States, with a capacity of up to 2,400 detainees and an average stay of about 20 days.
Also known as the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, it provides temporary housing, basic amenities like a gym and library, amid ongoing debates over family detention policies.
Examples
The South Texas Family Residential Center welcomed its latest guests with the efficiency of a Black Friday sale at a warehouse – 2,400 spots, first come, first bunked.
After reopening in early 2025, the South Texas Family Residential Center proved it's never too late for a family reunion, CoreCivic style.
Tourists flock to Dilley not for the barbecue, but to ponder the South Texas Family Residential Center's motto: 'Where every day feels like an extended vacation... with paperwork.'
In the South Texas Family Residential Center, families bond over shared meals and Flores settlement timelines – talk about quality time.