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April 2007
The ICE T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility:
maintaining family unity, enforcing immigration laws
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) opened the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas, in May 2006 to accommodate alien families in ICE custody. This state-of-the-art facility was designed for families who have been placed in administrative immigration proceedings and is one of the major reasons the Department of Homeland Security has been able to successfully end the “catch and release” of illegal aliens at the southern border.  
The facility provides an effective and humane alternative to maintain the unity of alien families as they await the outcome of their immigration hearings or the return to their home countries.
Background
Before ICE opened the Hutto facility, alien families caught illegally crossing the border were often released with “Notices to Appear” before federal immigration judges. However, they rarely appeared for these hearings. This “catch and release” policy created a border vulnerability that alien smugglers sought to exploit by bringing children across the border along with groups of smuggled strangers, attempting to pass the groups off as family units. By bringing the children, the smugglers hoped to avoid detention if captured. 
In order to provide a detention facility in which families could remain together while awaiting their proceedings, ICE acquired the existing T. Don Hutto Correctional Center through an Inter-Governmental Service Agreement with Williamson County, Texas. Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) operates the 512-bed facility under a contract with Williamson County. 
Key Advantages of the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility
- The facility provides an avenue for residents to maintain family unity while ICE enforces immigration laws.
- Family members are housed together in a “residential, non-secure” setting where they can interact with one another and other families.
- Designated areas within the facility serve as classrooms for children and adults. In accordance with state education requirements, all resident children receive classroom instruction taught by state-certified teachers, including (ESL) classes.
- As a family shelter facility, interior doors remain unlocked; the staff is specially trained to interact with residents to identify potential emerging problems.
- The facility operates in accordance with applicable ICE detention standards to ensure that families are safe and that specially trained personnel address their needs. All facility staff members receive more than 24 hours of specialized training in dealing with children.
- The facility is staffed with a robust complement of ICE officers to ensure thorough monitoring of operations.
- The three daily meals are approved by certified dieticians.
Other T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility Highlights
- The U.S. Public Health Service operates the medical area, which includes a mental health staff.
- The facility’s chaplain works with community volunteers to offer the residents the opportunity to worship and to strengthen family ties.
- Adult classes are available in parenting, ESL, vocational classes, family counseling, art and crafts.
- Residents are provided with t-shirts, sweat shirts and/or medical-style scrubs. (“Jail uniforms” are not worn).
- Doors to individual family living areas provide ample privacy. However, as appropriate for the unique mission of this facility, internal doors are not locked, facilitating maximum freedom of movement.
- The general library contains more than 2,000 books, and the law library is available five days a week to residents.
- The fully air-conditioned 75,000-square-foot facility accommodates 512 beds.
- Natural light is available throughout the living areas and hallways.
The facility includes three large shaded pavilions outdoors and spacious outdoor play areas. In addition, a full-size gymnasium is available with recreational activities including basketball, volleyball, handball, baseball, soccer, and ping-pong.
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