Two men allegedly escaped a Frio County detention center, which led to a swift multi-agency capture within an hour, raising questions about facility security.
FRIO COUNTY, Texas — Two men who allegedly escaped from an immigration detention facility in Frio County were captured within an hour Tuesday after a multi-agency search, authorities said.
The Frio County Sheriff’s Department responded around 9 a.m. to reports of a possible escape from the CoreCivic Dilley Immigration Processing Center, Sheriff Peter Salinas said.
With assistance from U.S. Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dilley Police Department and other agencies, authorities located and detained the two men by about 10 a.m., Salinas said.
“They noticed something was off at the facility, and as soon as they confirmed there was a problem, we were notified,” Salinas said.
DPS provided aerial support using drones, while Border Patrol agents deployed tracking dogs, according to the sheriff. Salinas said the men were found on nearby ranch land and did not get far from the facility.
“It’s dangerous to be out there,” Salinas said, noting the unfamiliar terrain posed risks to the detainees and the public.
The sheriff identified the men only by nationality, saying one is from Honduras and the other from Venezuela.
“When subjects like this get out into an unknown area, there’s no telling what actions they may take,” Salinas said. “That’s why we want people to be vigilant.”
Authorities issued an alert to the public shortly after the escape was confirmed. Salinas credited regular training exercises with helping agencies respond quickly and safely.
It remains unclear how the men escaped the facility. Salinas said his office will work with the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the incident and prevent future escapes.
“We’ll be having conversations to see if there’s anything we can do to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.
The men were taken back into custody, and the investigation is ongoing.