Austin Protesters Demand Freedom for Immigrant Mothers Locked in ICE Detention on Mother’s Day

As families across Central Texas enjoy Mother’s Day cookouts and brunches, a group of activists gathered outside the Texas Governor’s Mansion in Austin to spotlight a darker reality: mothers and children held in ICE detention centers in Dilley, Karnes, and Pearsall.

The protest, organized by Singing Resistance Austin, highlighted the plight of immigrant mothers separated from their families and locked in harsh detention conditions. Amy Hayes, a member of the group, emphasized the injustice: “A lot of them have work permits, green cards. Some of them are even citizens, so they should not be in there. They’re not criminals.”

Despite these claims, the Department of Homeland Security defended ICE’s enforcement, stating that nearly 70% of arrests involve undocumented immigrants charged with or convicted of crimes. DHS also denied family separations, claiming parents can choose to be removed with their children or designate a safe person for their care.

Hayes rejected this narrative, pointing out that these detainees are neighbors and community members, not criminals. “It is an agenda making a monster out of people who are not monsters,” she said.

The protest directly challenged Governor Greg Abbott, urging him to use his power to end these detentions. As of publication, Abbott’s office had not responded.

This rally underscores the ongoing cruelty of ICE’s for-profit detention system and the political will that sustains it. While politicians defend harsh enforcement, immigrant families continue to suffer behind bars, separated from their loved ones on a day meant to celebrate motherhood.