A significant coalition of celebrities and advocates has joined forces to demand the immediate cessation of operations at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center located in Dilley, Texas. Thousands of individuals have added their names to a petition calling for this decisive action.

The Open Letter to Federal Authorities

The formal appeal was published via the Change.org platform, directly addressing the federal government and CoreCivic, the facility operator. The signatories insist that the government must “immediately” shut down the center.

Core Demands for Immediate Action

  • Immediate closure of the Dilley facility.
  • Return of detained children and families to their original homes and communities.
  • An immediate end to the practice of child imprisonment.

High-Profile Signatories Join the Cause

The roster of supporters includes numerous well-known artists and actors lending their influence to the cause. Among those who signed are Jane Fonda, Madonna, Elliot Page, Pedro Pascal, Javier Bardem, and Michelle Williams.

Other notable figures lending their support include Gracie Abrams, Ayo Edebiri, Keke Palmer, Lena Dunham, Kesha, John Legend, Diego Luna, and Cynthia Nixon. Their collective voice amplifies the call for systemic change within immigration enforcement.

Allegations of Abysmal Detention Conditions

The open letter specifically draws attention to the severe suffering experienced by those held in immigration detention centers, especially children. The document cites experiences involving “trauma, neglect and conditions that violate basic standards of health, safety, dignity and human rights.”

Data reported by NBC indicates a grim reality within ICE custody, noting that at least 46 individuals passed away between January 2025 and March 2026.

A Call for Systemic Reform

The letter powerfully asserts that “Children belong in schools and on playgrounds, not in detention centers.” Furthermore, the commitment of the signatories extends beyond just closing this single location.

They explicitly demand “transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms to prevent these abuses from happening anywhere in the United States.”

Context of Increased Enforcement Actions

These calls for action follow intensified immigration enforcement measures initiated after President Donald Trump began his second term on January 20, 2025. Since that date, his administration reportedly directed ICE agents across the country to detain non-white residents, sometimes without warrants.

The letter notes that peaceful allies, specifically naming Alex Pretti and Renée Good, have reportedly been killed by ICE agents during this period.

Celebrity Activism Against ICE Policies

Advocates, leaders, and celebrities have consistently utilized their public platforms to denounce what they view as divisive policies and deplorable actions by ICE under the current administration. High-profile critics include Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga, Mark Ruffalo, and Bruce Springsteen.

Solidarity has also been visible during recent awards season events, where stars wore “ICE OUT” pins on the red carpets to show support for immigrants across the nation. Activists maintain that the ongoing effort to reform these practices is far from concluded.