By USA Daily Now 
Fox News recently secured exclusive access to the MONTGOMERY PROCESSING CENTER in Conroe, Texas, one of the 134 detention facilities operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) nationwide. This facility, located just north of Houston, processes approximately 400 to 500 illegal migrants weekly, offering a rare glimpse into ICE’s operations amidst heightened scrutiny of detention conditions under President DONALD TRUMP’s administration.
According to ICE data, there are currently 47,928 individuals in ICE custody across the country. Of these, approximately 25,679 (54%) have been charged or convicted of at least one criminal offense. The MONTGOMERY PROCESSING CENTER currently houses 1,240 detainees, nearing its capacity of 1,300.
RANDY TATE, the facility manager, emphasized the center’s unique design and purpose. “What we hope to accomplish, more than anything, is to dispel the false narratives out there,” he said. The facility operates as a self-contained unit, housing medical services and a fully operational courthouse with five federal immigration courtrooms. “We have been told it’s one of the most active courts in the nation,” Tate added. “This place is unique because it’s one of the few in the country that were designed and built for ICE and immigration.”
BRET BRADFORD, the Field Office Director, clarified that ICE detention facilities are not punitive but serve solely to ensure compliance with immigration proceedings. “The only reason we detain folks is to ensure their appearance in immigration court and to ensure their appearance for removal,” he stated.
During the tour, Fox News observed the detainee intake process, where deportation officers evaluate each case based on flight risk and potential public safety threats. “We only have so much bed space, so we prioritize the cases,” Bradford explained. “There are some cases that by law have to be detained—terrorism cases, extremely violent cases, expedited removal cases, and the like.”
Detainees are assigned housing based on their assessed risk level, with their uniforms color-coded accordingly. The facility’s dormitories house dozens of individuals, with men and women separated. While some detainees appeared relaxed, others expressed dissatisfaction. Fox News also toured the facility’s medical center, game rooms, gyms, library, and chapel.
Bradford addressed criticisms surrounding access to medical and legal care, stating that detainees have multiple avenues for assistance. “There are phones in every dorm. They can use them 24/7,” he said. Detainees are also provided with a list of pro bono legal services, tablets, law libraries, and access to legal research tools like LexisNexis.
ICE shared examples of criminal aliens housed at the facility, including JOSE LUIS CISNEROS-ZAMORA, wanted in Mexico for sexual abuse of a minor, and VALENTIN HERNANDEZ YANEZ, convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Other cases involved individuals with convictions for DWI, intoxicated manslaughter, and violent assaults.
“A lot of these folks are criminals,” Bradford said. “We don’t want them back in the community, further victimizing U.S. citizens. Even those who aren’t necessarily criminals—we often don’t know who they are or what they’ve done overseas.”
As immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue, ICE aims to counter misinformation and highlight its mission to protect public safety. “There are many false narratives and misinformation out there, especially from groups that oppose immigration enforcement,” Bradford concluded. “It’s very important for us to get out there and say the true narrative.”
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