Canadian Man Endures Months in Texas ICE Detention Amid Health and Legal Delays
A Canadian man, Curtis Wright, has been confined for nearly four months in a Texas detention facility operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), facing severe health risks and prolonged legal proceedings. Wright, 39, was arrested in November 2025 upon returning from a business trip in Mexico, despite having lived in the United States for almost three decades as a permanent resident.
Arrest and Detention Conditions
Wright was taken into custody on November 6, 2025, during secondary screening at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport. His fiancée, Kayla Thomsen, reported that he has been held at the South Texas Detention Facility in Pearsall, approximately 90 kilometres southwest of San Antonio. Thomsen described the conditions as cold and overcrowded, with detainees lacking blankets or jackets. She alleged that the water is contaminated, leading to Wright falling extremely ill, and that meals are inadequate, citing an instance where he received only one frozen waffle over a 24-hour period.
Reasons for Detention and Legal Hurdles
According to Thomsen, Wright's detention stems from a drug possession conviction from his high school years, involving Xanax tablets found in a car where he was a passenger. He completed community service as part of his sentence. Despite being eligible for self-deportation to Canada, Wright has refrained due to concerns about jeopardizing custody of his two sons from a previous marriage. Thomsen noted that Wright has had prior legal issues, including arrests for impaired driving and a firearm incident, but was not convicted in those cases.
Delays in Court Proceedings
The legal process has been marred by significant delays. A virtual court date scheduled last month was canceled when the judge failed to appear, and no new trial date has been set. Thomsen expressed frustration over the lack of answers from authorities, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security not responding to inquiries about Wright's case. Wright has been transferred between facilities four times during his detention, adding to the uncertainty.
Personal Impact and Community Support
Wright, who works in the oil and gas sector, lives in Houston with Thomsen, their 18-month-old daughter, and his two sons. Thomsen described the emotional toll of visits, where their daughter tries to reach him through glass barriers, leaving both parents distressed. She highlighted Wright's positive contributions, noting he has been sober for five years and actively helps others in Alcoholics Anonymous. Thomsen emphasized that many detainees, like Wright, are not criminals but are caught in a system that seems indiscriminate in its enforcement.
This case underscores broader issues within immigration detention systems, including health risks and procedural inefficiencies, as Wright continues to await resolution while his family grapples with the consequences.
