AMNA NAWAZ: Two Democratic members of Congress# visited the ICE family detention center in Dilley,## Texas, today, where 5-year-old# Liam Ramos is being detained,## along with many other children and families.

Congressman Joaquin Castro posted this# image of his meeting with Liam and his## father and shared this update on his condition.

REP.

JOAQUIN CASTRO (D-TX):# His father said that Liam has## been very depressed since he's been at# Dilley, that he hasn't been eating well.## I was concerned with, you see how he appears in# that photo with his energy.

He seemed lethargic.

AMNA NAWAZ: Over the weekend, hundreds of# detainees inside the facility protested## their conditions and treatment in# this remarkable display of defiance.

Immigration attorney Eric Lee was at the# center that day, and I spoke with him earlier.

Eric Lee, welcome to the "News# Hour."

Thank you for joining us.

ERIC LEE, Immigration Attorney:# Thanks for having me.

Hi.

AMNA NAWAZ: So I want to ask you about that day# .. But I want to start with the news today,# because you shared earlier that ICE put## the entire Dilley facility on lockdown# today.

What does that mean when that kind## of a place goes on lockdown?

And what do# you know about why that went into place?

ERIC LEE: Well, it's because of the# demonstration that took place today in Dilley.

We also know that, last night, guards# burst into one of the women's dormitories,## ordered everybody out of the room, stopped# people who were in the middle of prayers,## and rummaged through everybody's# personal belongings to find any## evidence of signs or participation# in the planned protest for today.

So there's no question that this was a# significant attack on the First Amendment## rights of all of the people in this# facility.

What it's looked like today,## from what we have been hearing from many# detained families, is that people are not## allowed to leave their rooms.

They were# escorted to the lunch area for meals.

And so this is the reaction of the Trump# administration to individuals expressing## their free speech rights, both inside these# facilities and outside these facilities.

AMNA NAWAZ: So, this weekend -- I want to# get to a piece of video that you recorded,## because I understand you were at the facility# meeting with clients.

You saw firsthand## some of these images that we saw going viral,# getting a lot of media attention and headlines.

And you recorded this piece of video# on Saturday.

Just take a listen.

ERIC LEE: Can you hear that?

They're# shouting: "Let us out, let us out."

AMNA NAWAZ: Eric, tell us more about what# you saw, what you heard that day.

And what## prompted the protest in the first place?

ERIC LEE: Well, I was visiting a family that## I represent.

Their name is El Gamal.

There's six# of them.

There's a mother and her five children,## two 5-year-old twins who have spent almost# 20 percent of their lives at this facility,## a 9-year-old, a 16-year-old,# an 18-year-old who has since## Saturday been separated from her family# and denied visitation rights as a result,## retribution for her decision to speak out# previously about conditions in this facility.

The protest, as I understand, was triggered by# the fact that people inside saw the size of the## general strike and the massive demonstration# that took place in Minneapolis on Friday,## and they were -- they wanted to join# this growing movement from below,## a movement of the American population# against the Trump administration's effort.

AMNA NAWAZ: You mentioned the El Gamal family# that you represent.

We should note their## father was convicted of domestic terrorism.

The# family says they knew nothing about that.

And,## as you mentioned, they have# now been detained for months.

Why are they being held?

Are they being charged## with something?

What's the# government's plan for them?

ERIC LEE: The government has detained this# family solely because of something that## somebody else did.

That offends every# basic democratic principle upon which## this country was founded 250 years ago this year.

The individual responsibility is required# for civil and other forms of incarceration## in this country.

This family, an# immigration judge has determined## that they did not know and that they could# not have known what their husband/father was## planning.

They have publicly denounced# the attack that took place in Boulder.

The Trump administration from the very beginning# has been punishing this family in a cruel and## sadistic way, 5-year-old children,# not because they did anything wrong,## but because of somebody to whom they were# related did.

And that is not how things## are supposed to work in this country.# That's how things work in police states,## where the regime punishes people# because of their associations.

And it's extremely concerning that this is being# done to this young family.

All they need is to## get out.

They have a supportive community# in Colorado ready to welcome them home.## An immigration judge denied# them bond last week because## the children and the mom lack sufficient# property and assets, among other things.

How does a 5-year-old have property?

He# made that decision about each individual## child.

That's what's happening in the American# immigration system.

That's what immigration## attorneys unfortunately see every day.

To the# American people, it's worse than you think.

AMNA NAWAZ: You shared online a photo drawn by# what I understand is the youngest child in the El## Gamal family.

You posted it online.

It shows the# family behind bars and the caption: "Let us go."

So, from your perspective, Eric, if immigration# judges are denying bond here, if this is the## system as it's working right now, what's the# recourse for a family like this or others?

ERIC LEE: I think, in the medium and long# term and actually even in the short term,## it's the development of this mass movement of## the population of this country# standing up, stepping forward.

Change and reform isn't possible within# the framework of the present political## establishment.

Press conferences by politicians# are great, but they go away after the midterms,## things stay the same.

Dilley was founded by# Obama and kept opened by Biden for three years.

What's required is this mass movement# from below which we're beginning to see## in this country.

That has to continue# to find independent expression.

And I## think that the fact that these children# are risking everything -- they could be## separated from their families.

They could be# deported in retribution for participating.

If they're standing up and speaking out, then that## is a message to the population# of the country and the world.

AMNA NAWAZ: Immigration attorney# Eric Lee joining us tonight.

Eric, thank you for your time.

We appreciate it.

ERIC LEE: Thank you.