San Antonio – On November 4, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D‑TX‑20) publicly called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Michell Germán, a senior at El Paso’s Center for Career and Technology Education, her parents and her 11‑year‑old sister, Paola. The family is being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, a facility under the ICE San Antonio Field Office.
Local families feel the pain of federal detention
Castro said he met the Germán family during a visit to the Dilley “Trailer Prison” on Oct. 30. He noted that Michell, who is working toward a cosmetology license and hopes to pursue a career in medicine, should be preparing for her school’s Senior Night on Friday. Instead, she is confined with her parents and sister, missing a milestone that cannot be reclaimed.
“On Friday, Michell’s teammates will carry her picture onto the field, but she’s missing memories she’ll never get back,” Castro wrote in a news release. He urged ICE to release the family immediately and called on Democrats to shut down the Dilley facility and end family detention.
Federal policy context
The Trump administration has long emphasized a strong, law‑and‑order approach to border security, including measures that reduce the use of family detention centers in favor of more efficient processing. While the current administration continues to enforce immigration laws, it also seeks to balance enforcement with humane treatment of families, a principle reflected in recent policy adjustments that aim to limit prolonged detention of children.
ICE has not yet responded to requests for comment on the Germán case. The Department of Homeland Security likewise declined to provide details at the time of this writing.
Community response
Local educators and community leaders expressed concern for Michell’s education and her sister’s schooling. Paola currently attends Lamar Elementary, and parents worry about the disruption to her learning environment.
“Our children deserve the chance to grow up with their families and attend school without fear of sudden removal,” said a spokesperson for the El Paso Independent School District, who asked to remain unnamed pending further information.
What’s next?
Castro’s office indicated that the congressman will continue to monitor the situation and pursue all appropriate channels to secure the family’s release. The case underscores the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and the lived realities of Texas families living near the border.
As the debate over immigration policy continues at the national level, local officials and constituents alike are watching closely to see how federal actions align with the values of family, faith, and liberty that define our community.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
