Amalia

Synopsis

Amalia was 1 year old when she and her parents were incarcerated at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, according to The Marshall Project. While detained, she developed a fever and grew lethargic. Her mother, Kheilin Valero Marcano, said she returned to Dilley's medical clinic repeatedly but was only given Tylenol and warned not to complain. When Amalia lost consciousness, her mother recalled asking clinic employees, "How long are you going to leave her like this? Are you going to let her die?" Amalia eventually spent more than a week in an outside hospital after her oxygen levels dropped dangerously low. There she was diagnosed with COVID-19, an ear infection, pneumonia, bronchitis, and RSV. Her mother said Amalia cried throughout the night because stress and lack of nutritious food made breastfeeding difficult. Parents at Dilley have also reported foul-smelling tap water, lights kept on all night, and prohibitions on stuffed animals and security blankets in living areas. Homeland Security disputed the family's account on social media, insisting Amalia "immediately received proper medical care." ICE and CoreCivic said the facility provides formula, healthy food, clean water, and age-appropriate care; lawyers for detained children called those claims "fanciful" in court filings. Amalia and her family were released in February after two months at Dilley.

Key takeaways

From court records, news reporting, and linked sources below.

  1. Amalia, 1, and her parents were held two months at Dilley earlier in 2026 (The Marshall Project).
  2. While detained she developed fever and lethargy; her mother Kheilin Valero Marcano said the clinic only provided Tylenol and warned against complaining.
  3. After Amalia lost consciousness, she spent more than a week in an outside hospital with dangerously low oxygen.
  4. She was diagnosed with COVID-19, ear infection, pneumonia, bronchitis, and RSV.
  5. Her mother said Amalia cried at night because stress and poor nutrition made breastfeeding difficult.
  6. DHS disputed the family's account; ICE and CoreCivic said adequate medical care and supplies were provided.
  7. Amalia and her family were released in February after two months in custody.

Reference links

Related

Detention facility

Dilley Immigration Processing Center→

← Back to Detainee Profiles