**Children are our future! No child is an inmate!** These are not just words to fill pages, but values we must uphold. It is horrifying that in the heart of Texas, families are being detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. Innocent children and their families are being held in a place that feels more like a prison than a welcoming refuge. Animals in shelters often receive better care, living in conditions that prioritize their well-being and humane treatment.

The Dilley detention center holds hundreds of families who have sought refuge in the United States, fleeing violence and trying to pursue a better life. However, their reality in detention is a far cry from safety. Reports and testimonies highlight overcrowding, insufficient medical care, and limited access to legal resources, which have sparked concerns from human rights organizations. It is unacceptable that families, especially children, endure such adversity when safer and more humane alternatives exist.

Statistics show that community-based alternatives to detention, such as supervised release programs, have proven effective and more compassionate. These programs allow families to stay within communities, providing stability and access to basic human services while they await the due process of their immigration status. Not only is this approach cost-effective, but it also aligns with our values of dignity and humanity.

We call on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and local authorities to take immediate action and prioritize the dismantling of this harsh detention system in Dilley. We urge them to release these families and adopt community-based solutions that treat them with the humanity and kindness they deserve. By supporting this petition, you can help ensure a future where no child feels trapped or incarcerated, but rather nurtured and protected.

Please sign this petition to demand the release of families from the Dilley detention center and to advocate for a more compassionate immigration process.