In a Texas ice detention facility

Fox News has exclusive access to a rare tour of ice detention facilities In Texasapproximately 400-500 illegal immigrants are processed weekly.

The Montgomery Processing Center is an ice detention facility located on Texas stoves just north of Houston. This is one of 134 detention facilities where ice operates throughout the United States.

According to ICE data, there are 47,928 aliens in ICE custody nationwide. Of those in custody, approximately 25,679 or 54% were charged or convicted of at least one criminal offence.

As a president Donald Trump Advances his promise to increase deportation efforts, many of these facilities are being scrutinized for their living conditions.

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“More than anything, what we want to achieve is to dispel the false narratives there,” said facility manager Randy Tate.

Currently, the Montgomery Processing Center has 1,240 detainees.

The facility manager is called a one-stop shop with everything you need inside the facility, removing the need to transport detainees. There is medical care on the premises and a full-scale court with five federal immigration courts.

“We’re told it’s one of the most active courts in the country,” Tate said. “This location is unique as it is one of the few countries designed and built for ice and immigration. It was designed for this purpose.”

Field Office Director Brett Bradford said these detention facilities were not punitive. They are strictly for removal purposes.

“The only reason we are detained is that people will ensure their appearance in immigration courts and ensure their appearance for removal,” Bradford said.

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We saw firsthand what it was like to be detained at the Montgomery Processing Center, from processing and reservations to living conditions within the facility.

Once detainees are taken to the facility, they are first dealt with by deportation officers who evaluate each case. Two major factors considered are their flight risk and potential threats to public safety.

“We have so much bed space, so we prioritize cases,” Bradford said. “In law, you may have to be detained. They are forced detention. Terrorist incidentvery quiet case, quick removal case, such as. ”

Illegal immigrants deemed eligible for officer detention will then be booked into the facility and housing allocation will be determined based on the assessed risk level.

Walking through the hall of the facility, I saw dozens of people. Illegal immigration It’s packed into the dorm. Those risk levels were indicated in uniform color. The men and women were kept separate, many simply sitting on their beds reading books. Some people were laughing, throwing signs of peace at us, while others were knocking down their thumbs.

“There are a lot of false stories and false reports, especially in groups that are opposed to immigration enforcement. I think it’s very important to get out there and say the true stories,” Bradford said.

The two main stories that Bradford wanted dispel were access to medical and legal care.

“They have multiple access,” Bradford said. “All dorms have phone calls. They are open 24/7.”

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MPC detainees will be given a list of Pro Bono legal services when they are first brought in for processing. Additionally, the dormitory has tablets and access to the Law Library within the facility and within each room.

“Each dormitory has a kiosk with access to ingredients,” Bradford said. “There are programs like LexisNexis can use to pursue legal cases. There are multiple paths. Needless to say, lawyers can visit at any time. There are rooms set up for lawyers to watch.

During our visit, we also saw the medical centre and the location where detainees were first screened.

“Medicine is something that’s always been criticized,” Bradford said. “I think it’s unfair. When they’re booked and evaluated, we find a condition that we didn’t even know that they didn’t have, an untreated condition.”

During our tour we witnessed the game room, gym, library and chapel. Bradford admits that not all facilities have the same amenities.

According to ICE data, 77% of aliens detained in MPC were charged or convicted in at least one criminal defense.

“A lot of these people are criminals,” Bradford said. “We don’t want them to return to our community, we don’t want them to harm American citizens or to harm American citizens, and therefore we don’t want to repeat their crimes or sacrifice their community.

ICE gave us some examples to show the types of offenders held in the facility.

Jose Luis Cisneros Zamora53-year-old criminal foreigner From Mexicoillegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. While illegally in the US, Cisneros-Zamora was convicted of driving while drunk, exacerbating the robbery and obstructing the highway passages. Cisneros-Zamora was released from prison for robbery on March 18, 2025, then transferred to US immigration and customs enforcement custody on March 18, 2025. While in Ice custody, immigration officers received information warning Mexican aggressive criminal warrants after being arrested for sexual abuse of a minor in Piedras Negras, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico, for sexual abuse. He is in ice custody at the Montgomery Processing Center as immigration proceedings are pending.

Valentin Hernandez YanezThe 38-year-old had previously been deported from Mexico, but illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. Illegally in the US, Hernandez was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault on a child and an illegal re-entry. ICE deported Hernandez to Mexico on June 15, 2011 after an immigration judge expelled him on June 13, 2011. Ice arrested Hernandez on June 17, 2024, and he was found guilty of illegal re-entry. He remains in ice custody at the Montgomery Processing Center, waiting for removal from the US.

Manuel Xol Cocha 53-year-old criminal alien from Guatemala illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. ICE encountered him at the Harris County Jail following his arrest and conviction against DWI. The immigration judge deleted XOL on July 11, 2014. The ICE officer carried out the order and moved it to Guatemala on August 21, 2014. Ice met him on April 14, 2025 at the Harris County Jail. Xol posted the bond that same day and would have been released to the community if there were no detainees. Instead, he is taken to ice detention and stays in the MPC, and he is no longer a threat to the community.

Josue Ricardo Reyes likea 30-year-old criminal alien from Guatemala illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. Reyes was convicted on December 5, 2017 of drunk manslaughter in Harris County, Texas. After serving as a prison sentence, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice transferred Reyes to ice custody on April 8, 2025, and he was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center, where the suspension of immigration proceedings is on hold.

Elmer Oswald Lopez Zecenaa 27-year-old criminal foreigner and child sex offender from Guatemala, has illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. Lopez was convicted on June 21, 2023 of assault, injury to a child causing physical damage, and indecent exposure to a minor. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice transferred Lopez to ice custody on February 5, 2025, and he was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center, where the suspension of immigration proceedings is on hold.

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Jesus Vasquez Daniela 59-year-old foreign fugitive from Mexico, has illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and unknown locations. ICE received the information on July 18, 2024. Vasquez received what was being sought for the worse murder in Mexico, allegedly murdering a man during a home break-in and attempted robbery. ICE successfully found and arrested Vasquez near Hillsboro, Texas on July 18, 2024, and he was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center, where he fell into an immigration lawsuit.