Roughly two dozen immigration advocates, faith leaders, Japanese internment camp survivors, and their descendants completed a four-day, 45-mile pilgrimage on Saturday to the South Texas Family Residential Center, an immigrant detention facility located outside of Dilley, Texas. This act of solidarity was aimed at raising awareness about the conditions within the facility and advocating for its closure.
The participants, representing various organizations, including Free Families, Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministries, Grassroots Leadership, and Tsuru for Solidarity, demanded the end of family detention and family separations caused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions. A Japanese internment survivor called the facility inhumane, emphasizing the tragic “repetition of American history.”
“Join us everywhere,” urged Mike Ishii, executive director and co-founder of Tsuru for Solidarity. “March in solidarity, walk in spiritual faith and strength, just as we are doing today.” His words served as a rallying cry for activists to unite in the fight against injustices faced by immigrant families.
The pilgrimage began on Wednesday morning at the Crystal City Concentration Camp, where Japanese American families were imprisoned during World War II. Walking up to 12 miles each morning, the group arrived at Dilley’s detention center around 10 a.m. Saturday, culminating in a solemn ceremony.
During the event, interfaith leaders and activists prayed, performed a meditative chant, and tied colorful origami cranes—symbolizing peace and hope—to the facility’s chain-link fence topped with razor wire. The cranes were folded by Japanese American concentration camp survivors and their descendants, bridging a painful history with the current struggles of immigrant families.
“We bring [these cranes] on their behalf and in solidarity with the children and the families being subjected to violence inside Dilley and in every detention site across the country,” Ishii stated. “The message from us is this must stop.” His passionate call to action resonated with the crowd as they faced the stark reality of the detention center.
The Dilley facility is notable as the only immigrant detention center in the United States that detains parents along with their children. Opened in 2014, it has the capacity to hold 2,400 individuals, primarily women and children. Critics argue that detaining young children and their mothers is both inhumane and unnecessary, especially since these families pose no security threat.
The facility has faced significant scrutiny over the years, especially during the Biden administration, which temporarily closed it only for the Trump administration to reopen it in March 2025. Under the latter, the daily number of children detained by ICE increased dramatically. Dilley became the primary detention center for children, leading to widespread protests and concerns over the welfare of those held there.
Recently, the Dilley facility made headlines when images of immigration agents detaining a 5-year-old boy went viral, prompting protests outside the center. Activists highlighted the alarming conditions within the facility, including reports of moldy food, neglectful medical care, and even cases of measles among detainees.
For survivors of Japanese internment, the parallels between their experiences and the current conditions at Dilley are unsettling. During World War II, over 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in internment camps across the nation. Many of these survivors, now elderly, joined the pilgrimage to raise their voices against what they see as a repetition of their painful history.
Rev. Kenji Akahoshi, a retired Buddhist minister and survivor of Japanese internment, shared his story with the pilgrims, stating, “I was 2 weeks old when my family was incarcerated. Because of that trauma that I suffered — that has been with me my entire life — I am here to help those, especially the children, whose lives are being affected as we speak.” His testimony underscored the emotional weight of the pilgrimage and the urgency of their message.
Keiko Kubo and Satsuki Ina, fellow survivors, expressed their heartbreak over having to return to a similar situation decades later. “It’s heartbreaking to know we are back here again,” Ina said, reflecting on the ongoing struggles faced by immigrant families today.
The pilgrimage concluded with a powerful demonstration of unity, as Pastor Dianne Garcia led the group in a reflection on justice, echoing the sentiments of the activists. Clara, her 12-year-old daughter, led a song crafted in collaboration with children who have been detained, emphasizing hope and resilience. The poignant lyrics, “Together we’ll sing until everyone’s free,” resonated deeply with all in attendance.
The ceremony closed with Ishii leading a chant often recited in Japanese internment camps: “Kodomo no tame ni. There are children, set them free,” a call to action that encapsulated the spirit of the pilgrimage.
As origami cranes hung from the detention center’s fence, the message from the participants was clear: the fight for justice and compassion for immigrant families must continue. This pilgrimage serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by marginalized communities and the importance of standing in solidarity against injustice.
This story is published through a collaboration between The Texas Tribune and Religion News Service.
