Thread by @RAICESTEXAS

We're continuing our series of #StoriesFromKarnes this evening but please take note: the story we are about to share is devastating and the baby is currently very ill while locked up.

The dad has been detained at the Karnes detention center for 21 days with his 1 year old son.

He came here from Honduras after a gang threatened to kill him.

Here's what he shared with us today:

"My one-year-old son has had diarrhea every day since we arrived to Karnes. It has been over 21 days of non-stop diarrhea. It is a serious cause for concern when a one-year old baby has had diarrhea for so long."

"I am afraid of what can happen to my son if he becomes dehydrated or if serious complications develop as a
result of the diarrhea while we are in detention."

"My son cannot eat the food served at Karnes. He neither receives a special, age-appropriate diet nor a diet specific for his health condition. All residents are served the same meals and no accommodations are made for serious medical and dietary needs"

"The medical staff told me that I need to “force feed” my son if he won’t eat."

(Any doctors out there? Is this advice good advice? It sounds like terrible advice to us.)

"I’ve been trying for weeks to get his medical records." Staff at the Karnes detention center have refused to share them.

"The medical staff has on more than one occasion told me that I need to force feed my one-year old son if he doesn’t want to drink milk or eat. When I do this, he vomits and
gets sick—I’ve told them this repeatedly."

"Diarrhea in children can become dangerous quickly and as his father, I feel helpless knowing that his condition could become more complicated at any moment. How much longer can a one-year-old baby not eat and suffer from painful, dehydrating diarrhea before something is
done?"

"I have lost weight since being detained at Karnes. My pants are constantly sagging because of my weight loss. I cannot fathom the effects on my son’s body."

"In addition to the diarrhea, my son has developed a cough and runny nose that won’t go away."

"My son cannot sleep in detention at Karnes. He cries all night and is constantly woken up by all of the noise. He is having difficulty breathing and seems to have stomach pain, but I don’t know exactly the source of his pain because he can’t talk."

"At night, the guards check on us every few hours and are we shaken by the sounds of the guards opening and closing doors at all hours of the night."

"Prolonged detention with a one-year-old baby is an overwhelming, suffocating feeling. I do not feel like I can father my child here. I do not feel that I have control of his care."

"Babies do not speak, but they see & feel what happens. I know my son feels the pressure of our prolonged detention & cries because of it. He
may be little, but he does not want to be here. I feel depressed knowing the effect that our prolonged detention is having on my son."

This father and his son are getting ready to spend night 22 at the Karnes detention center.

We're desperately need your help to tag @ICEgov and demand they release this family. Please do it now, and again in the morning if they are not released. We'll share any updates.

@ICEgov The baby boy and his dad are still detained.

Tonight will be night 23.

Please continue to call on @icegov to release them immediately. The baby should not be kept in prison-like conditions without adequate medical attention.

@ICEgov The baby & his dad are getting released!

We just got word. Can’t believe it. This happened because of your pressure. Thank you.

But remember: lots more families are still locked up. They need to be released as well.

We're working to help the dad get medical care upon release.

@ICEgov The family is free!

We met them at the airport this afternoon. Exhausted, excited, scared, worried - but free. We're chatting to the dad about medical support and figuring out next steps.

Thank you all so much for your support. This would not have happened without you.