Port Isabel Service Processing Center

About our facility

The Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC) occupies the grounds and buildings that were originally used by the US Army Air Corps as a training base during World War II and later became US Naval Air Station. The former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) first occupied the 345 acre facility in 1961 and the facility was officially transferred to the INS in 1963. On 1 March 2003, the US Immigration and Naturalization Service transitioned into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was begun. ICE, the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security operates the Port Isabel Detention Center (PIDC).

The Port Isabel Detention Center is a 1200 bed adult female and male facility for undocumented migrants detained and pending determination of their legal status in the United States. With an average daily census of 1100 detainees and approximately 1500 new undocumented migrants processed each month PIDC is one of the largest facilities staffed by the Division of Immigration Health Services.

Meet our staff and see what we do

The Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) staff including US Public Health Service officers and STG contract staff operates a 36 bed infirmary and a 24 hour/day, 7 day/week Ambulatory Care Clinic within the Port Isabel Detention Center. Our Mission "We protect America by providing health care and public health services in support of immigration law enforcement" and our Vision "By 2012, we will be the globally recognized leader in detention health care and will be recognized as having the most dedicated, competent workforce that provides for the effective and efficient utilization of its resources" are carried out each day with pride and distinction. In March 2007 we moved into a new state of the art medical facility that houses our ambulatory care clinic and the 36 bed short stay unit which is made up of eight airborne isolation beds, six psychiatric observation units and 22 general medical beds. Services provided include new arrival screening, communicable disease identification and treatment, acute care, physical exams, sick call, dental care, mental health, and various ancillary visits that total over 40,000 ambulatory visits per year. Our staff of 55 team-members consists of 19 USPHS Commissioned Corp Officers and 36 non-federal employees. Opportunities for professional growth and challenges abound as we provide increasingly excellent and efficient health care in the new facility.

Our Location

The PIDC is located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley approximately 15 miles from the sandy beaches of South Padre Island and 30 miles north of Brownsville TX and the Mexican Border.

Places to go, People to see

Our proximity to the Mexican border and South Padre Island provides a unique cultural and relaxation opportunity. Located within a one hour drive are three International bridges to several Mexican border cities which offer shopping, entertainment, and dining opportunities. A newly built arena in Hidalgo, Texas (1.5 hours drive) offers a minor league hockey team, a professional arena football team, and many entertainment events which have included concerts, boxing, and wrestling. Other travel destinations include Corpus Christi TX (150 miles), San Antonio TX (250 miles), and Houston TX (360 miles). Educational opportunities include the Univ. of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg TX, Univ. of TX-Brownsville in Brownsville TX, Texas State Technical College, and other various community colleges.

To learn more

To find out about employment opportunities with the Division of Immigration Health Services in Port Isabel, TX please contact us at the address below: