More than 150 famous people, such as Jane Fonda, Pedro Pascal, Javier Bardem, Madonna, Gracie Abrams, and John Legend, have signed an open letter asking for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) family detention center in Dilley, Texas, to be shut down right away. The letter calls the South Texas Residential Center “inhumane” and says it puts kids and families through trauma, neglect, and violations of basic health, safety, and human rights standards.
Not only Hollywood stars support the campaign, but so do athletes, doctors, and immigration advocates who say that family detention has no place in the U.S. immigration system. The letter, which came out on March 30, 2026, asks the Biden administration, Congress, and the private contractor CoreCivic to close the Dilley facility and stop detaining families all over the country. Along with the initiative, there is an online petition that anyone can sign to add their name and put more pressure on lawmakers.
Recent cases, like the detention of a 5-year-old boy and his father, have caused a national backlash and judicial scrutiny. Supporters say the letter signed by celebrities could help turn long-standing worries into real policy changes, such as the possible closing of the South Texas Residential Center.
If the authorities listen to the requests, closing the Dilley ICE detention center could be a big step away from locking up families and toward other, community-based ways to keep an eye on families seeking asylum. The star-studded group has called the situation a humanitarian crisis and a test of American values. They have promised that their commitment “does not end with the closure” of Dilley, but will continue to push for more openness and change throughout the immigration system. As the debate heats up, Dilley may become a major topic of conversation across the country about borders, children’s rights, and the future of ICE operations in Texas and elsewhere.
