Officer Positioned Near Showers: Woman Reports Conditions at Migrant Detention Center
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
Hilda Torres, who has been detained for nearly six months, has raised concerns about hygiene, health issues, and privacy at a migrant detention center. One of her main complaints involves the lack of privacy during showers, where she claims an officer—often male—is stationed nearby, making the experience uncomfortable. Torres has also reported problems with water temperature and stomach issues affecting detainees. Through letters to her family, she has detailed her experiences, including an incident where a guard allegedly stared at her while she showered. Management and Training Corporation, the operator of the facility, responded to TELEMUNDO 40, stating that privacy standards are met with 5-foot shower walls and that officers are not stationed near bathrooms or showers during use. They also claimed the average shower temperature is 102°F and denied hygiene issues, asserting regular cleaning and pest control measures. Activists and Torres' family have called for government intervention, with groups like Brown Berets RGV urging inspections of detention centers. Recently, Congressmen Vicente González and Joaquín Castro visited detention centers in South Texas, documenting conditions and pledging action.