Inside Border Detention : Prolonged Detention, Family Separation, and Pressure to Self-Deport

Inside Border Detention: Bishop Michael Hunn & Chaplain Ana Reza on Prolonged Detention, Family Separation, and Pressure to Self-Deport

Bishop Michael Hunn of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande speaks with Diocesan Border Chaplain Ana Reza about current conditions in two El Paso detention centers visited weekly through Rio Grande Borderland Ministries. Reza describes detainees held for over a year despite having work permits and following legal processes, including a young man awaiting a habeas petition and a woman seeking bond review in the Fifth Circuit, and emphasizes they are not criminals. She recounts family separation and trauma affecting children, plans to attend court for support, and details a faith leader detainee repeatedly processed for deportation—shackled, transported, and returned—apparently to pressure self-deportation while her habeas case continues amid poor medical care and mail barriers. They discuss for-profit detention, a recent protest at Camp East Montana, and third-country removal agreements with about 35 countries with little oversight.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions00:29 Border Ministry Overview00:47 Why Detention Still Matters01:33 Long Detentions and Habeas02:44 Work Permits Yet Detained04:01 Families Separated and Trauma05:23 Pastora Targeted for Deportation06:55 Mail Blocks and Protest Inside08:19 Inside the Pastoral Prayer Circle10:03 Deportation Threat Tactics12:18 Return Processing and Medical Neglect13:26 Third Country Removal Explained14:56 Human Rights Call and Closing