Fox News exclusively visited rare ice detention centers in Texas, handling about 400 to 500 illegal immigrants a week.
The Montgomery Processing Center is an ice detention center in Conrow, Texas, just north of Houston. It is one of 134 detention facilities throughout the United States.
According to ICE data, there are 47,928 aliens nationwide. About 25,679 or 54% of people in detention are charged or ruled to at least one criminal offense.
As President Donald Trump advances to his commitment to deportation efforts, many of these facilities are under scrutiny for their living conditions.
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Fox News visited the Montgomery Machining Center in Conrow, Texas. (Fox News)
“What we want to achieve is to eliminate false narratives there,” said Randy Tate, facility manager.
Currently, there are 1,240 detainees in the Montgomery Processing Center, which can accommodate up to 1,300 people.
The facility manager calls it a one-stop shop, and everything is needed inside the facility, thus eliminating the need to transport detainees. There is medical treatment on site, and there is a mature court building with 5 federal immigration courts.
Shots by Jose Luis Cisneros-Zamora, Valentin Hernandez Yanez, Manuel Xol Coch, Josue Ricardo Ricardo Reyes Suchite, Elmer Oswaldo Lopez-Zecena and Jesus Vazquez-Daniel. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement | Getty Images)
“We were told it was one of the most active courts in the United States,” Tate said. “This place is unique because it is one of the few places designed and built for ice and immigration in the country. It was designed for this purpose.”
Bret Bradford, director of the field office, said the detention centers were not punitive. They are strictly for demolition purposes.
“The only reason we detain people is to make sure they show up in immigration courts and make sure they show up in immigration,” Bradford said.
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We witnessed first-hand the detention at the Montgomery Processing Center, from processing and booking to living conditions within the facility.
When detainees are brought to the facility, they are first handled by deportation officials who evaluate each case. Two main factors considered are their flight risks and potential threats to public safety.
“We only have too many beds, so we prioritize cases,” Bradford said. “In some cases, the law has to be detained. They are mandatory detention. They are terrorism cases, extremely silent cases, expedited recall cases and things like that.”
Aerial footage from the Montgomery Machining Center in Conrow, Texas. (Google Maps)
Illegal immigrants deemed eligible for detention by officials are then booked into the facility, with their housing allocation determined based on the assessed level of risk.
As we walked through the lobby of the facilities, we saw dozens of illegal immigrants crowding the dormitory. Their risk level is indicated by the color of the uniform. Men and women are separated, and many are just sitting on bunk beds to read. Some threw peace signs at us and smiled, while others lowered their thumbs.
“There are a lot of fake narratives and misinformation out there, especially among groups that are opposing immigration enforcement. I think it’s very important for us to go out and say the real narrative,” Bradford said.
The main narrative that Bradford wants to eliminate is access to medical and legal care.
“They have multiple access channels,” Bradford said. “Every dormitory has a cell phone. They can use them 24/7.”
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The MPC detainees will be provided with a list of pro bono legal services when they are first brought into the process. In addition, their dormitories have tablets, using the law library in the facilities and in each room.
“In every dormitory, there are information kiosks that can use materials,” Bradford said. “Programs like Lexisnexis can be used to pursue legal cases. There are multiple ways. Not to mention, attorneys can access at any time. Rooms are set up for lawyers’ client vision, so they have the privacy to discuss their case.”
During our visit, we also saw the medical center and the places where detainees were screened first.
“Healthcare has been criticized,” Bradford said. “I think it’s unfair. When they’re booked and evaluated, we found out that they didn’t even know they were already and untreated medical conditions.”
During the tour we witnessed the game room, gym, library and church. Bradford acknowledges that not every facility has the same amenities.
According to ICE data, more than three quarters of MPC detainees are charged or committed at least one offence. (John Moore/Getty Image)
According to ICE data, 77% of foreigners detained in MPC are charged or convicted of at least one criminal defense.
“Many of these people are criminals,” Bradford said. “We don’t want them to go back to the community, we don’t want them to hurt our citizens or further hurt our citizens. There are so many things that have been done. So we don’t want them to repeat their crimes or further endanger the community. So we certainly want to protect the community and leave these people out of the community. Another person isn’t even a certain person, and we don’t have to know that they really don’t know them.
ICE gives us some examples of the type of criminal foreigner that is housed in the facility.
Jose Luis Cisneros-Zamora. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Jose Luis Cisneros-Zamoraa 53-year-old criminal from Mexico entered the United States on an unknown date and location. In the case of illegality in the United States, Cisneros-Zamora was found guilty of drunkenness, aggravated robbery and obstruction of highway access. Cisneros-Zamora was transferred to a U.S. immigration and customs law enforcement detention facility on March 18, 2025 after he was released from prison for aggravated robbery. During ICE detention, immigration officials received a message reminding them that Cisneros-Zamora, who was arrested in Mexico for alleged sexual abuse by Piedras Negras in Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico. He is still detained on the ice at the Montgomery Processing Center, awaiting disposal of immigration procedures.
Valentin Hernandez Yanez. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Valentin Hernandez YanezA 38-year-old man has previously expelled criminals from Mexico and entered the United States on an unknown date and unknown location. When illegal in the United States, Hernandez was convicted of aggravated sexual assault on children and illegal reentry. The ICE had previously deported Hernandez from June 15, 2011, after an immigration judge ordered him to be removed from office on June 13, 2011. He illegally re-entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. Ice arrested Hernandez on June 17, 2024, and he was convicted of illegal reentry. He is still in custody at the Montgomery Processing Center, waiting for his evacuation from the United States
Manuel Xol Coch. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Manuel Xol Cocha 53-year-old criminal from Guatemala entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. Ice was met at Harris County Jail after being arrested and convicted of DWI. An immigration judge ordered the cancellation of XOL on July 11, 2014. On August 21, 2014, the ICE officer carried out the order and removed him to Guatemala. XOL illegally re-entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. Ice met him in Harris County Jail on April 14, 2025 after he was arrested for a crash, and the detainee was imprisoned. XOL released the bonds that day and will be released back to the community without detainees. Instead, he was detained in the MPC, where he no longer poses a threat to the local community.
Josue Ricardo Reyes Suchite. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Josue Ricardo Reyes Suchitea 30-year-old criminal from Guatemala entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. Reyes was convicted of drunken homicide on December 5, 2017 in Harris County, Texas. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice was sentenced to jail on April 8, 2025 and was sentenced to ICE custody and taken to Montgomery Processing Center, where he is still pending his immigration lawsuit.
Elmer Oswaldo Lopez-Zecena. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Elmer Oswaldo Lopez-ZecenaA 27-year-old criminal and child sex offender from Guatemala illegally entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. Lopez was found guilty of attack on June 21, 2023, with injuries to children who caused personal injury and indecent exposure to minors. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice transferred Lopez to ICE detention on February 5, 2025 and was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center, where he is still pending his immigration procedures.
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Jesus Vazquez Daniel. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Jesus Vazquez Daniela 59-year-old foreign fugitive from Mexico entered the United States on unknown dates and locations. ICE received information on July 18, 2024, after allegedly assaulting a man during an attempted house invasion and robbery, and was wanted for the death of a murder in Mexico. ICE successfully found and arrested Vazquez near Hillsboro, Texas on July 18, 2024, and was taken to the Montgomery Processing Center and appointed as an immigration program.
