Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel has a new cause: Freeing kids from ICE detention

Children’s Entertainer Ms. Rachel Takes on ICE Detention Crisis

A 9-year-old boy, Deiver Henao Jimenez, appeared on a video call from the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, expressing his desire to be free. “I can’t stand being here any longer,” he said. “It’s not a good place.” Since March, Deiver had been held with his parents at the facility in South Texas, where complaints about inadequate schooling, unrelenting lighting, and questionable meals have emerged. The call with Ms. Rachel, the beloved children’s entertainer, marked a poignant moment for the boy.

Ms. Rachel’s Emotional Encounter

Wearing her iconic pink headband, Ms. Rachel leaned into the screen, offering comfort to Deiver. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice carrying the warmth familiar to countless young viewers. “Many people are trying to help.” Deiver shared his longing for friends and his discomfort with the food, yet his primary worry was missing the spelling bee. “I want to leave and join the competition,” he declared. Ms. Rachel reassured him, praising his spelling skills. “You’re very bright,” she said. Her expression shifted, revealing the emotional impact of the moment. “It was surreal to see such a sweet face and feel like I was speaking with someone in detention,” she told NBC News in an exclusive interview. “It shook me, something I never imagined facing.”

Global Advocacy Meets Local Concern

Accurso, whose educational videos for infants and toddlers have made her a household name, has become a vocal advocate for vulnerable children. Her efforts extend beyond Dilley, addressing the struggles of children in conflict zones like Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While raising substantial funds for these causes, she has faced criticism for perceived biases. “Every child is equally precious,” she insists, a principle guiding her activism.

Conditions at Dilley Under Scrutiny

Immigration advocates and parents reported that children at Dilley have lost weight after finding worms in their meals, grown anxious with constant guard patrols, and waited long hours for limited medication. Some have even experienced medical emergencies during their stay. The New York Times noted a significant drop, with only 50 children remaining at Dilley this week compared to around 500 in January. The decline, though unexplained, coincides with sustained pressure from human rights groups, Democratic lawmakers, and legal professionals. Some families were released in the U.S., while others were sent back to their home countries.

Government Response to Detention Reports

The Department of Homeland Security did not address inquiries about the families Ms. Rachel met during video sessions. The agency has dismissed accounts of poor conditions as “media fabrications,” claiming Dilley provides comprehensive care in a facility “purpose-built” for families. Accurso, however, said the more she learned about Dilley after the detention of Liam Conejo Ramos’s father in Minneapolis, the more unsettled she became. A photograph of the child — wearing a blue bunny hat and a Spider-Man backpack — circulated online, drawing national attention to the center’s treatment of detained families.

A New Mission for Ms. Rachel

Following the call with Deiver and another child at Dilley, Accurso announced a fresh initiative. “I’m working with legal experts and advocates to close Dilley and return children and their families to their communities,” she stated. This mission, she explained, stems from her growing awareness of the facility’s conditions and the emotional toll on its residents. “