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The open letter signed by celebrities shines a light on the trauma and neglect endured by detainees, especially children, at immigration detention centers across the country.Dilley Today
Dozens of celebrities, including Madonna, Pedro Pascal, Ayo Edebiri, Gracie Abrams, and Jane Fonda, have signed an open letter demanding the closure of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Dilley, Texas. The letter highlights the ‘trauma, neglect and conditions that violate basic standards of health, safety, dignity and human rights’ that detainees, particularly children, endure in immigration detention centers.
Why it matters
The open letter is the latest effort by advocates, leaders, and celebrities to call out the Trump administration’s divisive policies and ICE’s actions, which have included the detention of non-white residents without warrants and even the killing of peaceful allies. The campaign to close the Dilley detention center is part of a broader push to end child imprisonment and provide transparency and accountability around the treatment of immigrants in U.S. custody.
The details
The open letter, published on Change.org, demands that the federal government and private prison operator CoreCivic close the Dilley detention center ‘immediately, return children and families to the homes and communities they were taken from and to end child imprisonment now.’ According to NBC data, at least 46 people have died in ICE custody between January 2025 and March 2026.
The open letter was published on March 31, 2026.
The players
Madonna
A renowned pop singer and activist who has signed the open letter.
Pedro Pascal
An actor who has signed the open letter.
Ayo Edebiri
An actress and comedian who has signed the open letter.
Gracie Abrams
A singer-songwriter who has signed the open letter.
Jane Fonda
An acclaimed actress and longtime activist who has signed the open letter.
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The takeaway
The open letter signed by dozens of celebrities is the latest high-profile effort to bring attention to the inhumane conditions at ICE detention centers and the broader push to end the detention of immigrants, particularly children, in the United States.