Karnes City, Texas – Immigrant detention center in South Texas has opened a hair salon for women detainees who illegally crossed the border. The facility has additional amenities for their children like playgrounds and snacks, along with stuffed animals and cartoon wall murals.
Authorities have converted a former all-male detention center in a temporary housing for families. This is due to the increased number of illegal immigrants from Central America, those who bring their children with them in crossing the territorial borders. About 57,000 immigrant children were detained by border patrols since October last year.
Considered as the third family center throughout the nation, the Karnes County Residential Center is ready for occupancy that could accommodate up to 532 detainees, costing $140 per person per day. Other family centers are located in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The local government has agreed with The GEO Group in the facility’s day-to-day operations.
Adult detainees will not be accommodated at the facility, only families picked up from Texas and Rio Grande Valley. Enrique Lucero, an immigration field officer said that case will surely vary, but officials are discussing on an average of 23-day stay per family.
After entering the 15-foot gate of the facility, immigrants will go through health screenings. They will also be allowed to pick their own clothes and their children’s. Mothers can request for baby blankets, pacifiers, diapers, and feeding bottles.
Aside from dental care, playrooms, internet access, basketball courts, library, pay phones, and entertainment rooms, a hair salon for women detainees has been added to the existing amenities since its opening in 2012. Also, a small soccer field will also be installed soon.
Officials sought a need to soften the Karnes County facility, eradicating razor barbed wire, strict rules, and trained staff who deal with hardened criminals within the center. Hence, walls were garnished with cartoon murals like zoo animals and rocket ships. The hair salon for women detainees was also a big leap in the facility. Lucero said that all these additions and transitions will make the environment more family friendly.
Staff who previously worked with adult male detainees also went through training to ensure proper dealing with children. Also, the Karnes City facility has contracted with a certain local school to integrate bilingual elementary, mid and high school educators to on-site classrooms. Children detainees will be required to attend school, while their mothers can freely enjoy other amenities for their liking such as the new hair salon for women detainees.