Since Donald Trump returned to the presidency, over 400,000 individuals have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws. Nearly 60,000 of these people are currently held in ICE facilities across the country. An ongoing investigation by journalists Pierrick Leurent and Valérie Defert in Texas is looking into the experiences of those detained, focusing on the living conditions within these facilities and the reasons behind the detention of children. The investigation aims to uncover the daily realities faced by detainees, including access to basic necessities like food, water, and medical care. Reports have raised concerns about overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and the psychological impact on detainees, especially children. These conditions have sparked debates about the treatment of immigrants and the ethical implications of detaining minors. The detention of children has been a particularly contentious issue. Under U.S. immigration policy, children—defined as those under 18—are generally not held in immigration detention unless they are deemed a flight risk or a danger to the community. However, critics argue that the system often fails to distinguish between children and adults effectively, leading to the detention of many minors. Leurent and Defert’s investigation is shedding light on these practices, aiming to provide a clearer picture of how ICE operates and the impact on those affected. Their work comes at a time of heightened public and political interest in U.S. immigration policies and the treatment of migrants.