A 39 year old Canadian born permanent resident of the United States is speaking publicly about his months long detention inside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas. Curtis Wright, originally from Edmonton, is being held at the South Texas ICE Processing Center near San Antonio after being taken into custody in early November at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. He had just returned from a business trip to Mexico when he was flagged by authorities.
Wright says he was detained due to a decades old misdemeanor drug possession conviction from when he was 17. According to his family, the charge involved a single Xanax tablet found in his vehicle more than 20 years ago. His record also includes a past misdemeanor firearm related charge and an impaired driving arrest several years ago. His parents state that he has renewed his permanent residency multiple times since those incidents and has traveled internationally without issue, including recent visits to British Columbia.
Speaking from the detention facility, Wright described what he calls deteriorating living conditions. He alleges poor hygiene, mold and unclean water, and says the food provided is inadequate. His family claims that during the first 48 hours of detention he received minimal provisions. They believe the environment may pressure detainees into accepting voluntary departure from the United States rather than continuing lengthy legal battles.
The impact on Wright’s family has been significant. His fiancé, Kayla Thomsen, says their 18 month old daughter asks for her father daily and carries his photos. Wright also shares two sons from a previous marriage and had secured shared custody before his detention. His parents, who divide their time between Texas and British Columbia, say the prolonged uncertainty has taken an emotional toll.
Wright says his time in custody has changed his perspective on immigration enforcement. He previously believed authorities focused primarily on serious offenders. Now, he says many detainees he has met are individuals with families and employment histories who are trying to build stable lives. In response to his situation, his family has filed a habeas corpus petition in U.S. federal court, arguing that his detention violates constitutional protections. They hope he will be released to continue his legal case from home while maintaining his family responsibilities.
