At the risk of sounding like I support ice, I think she probably should have been turned away at the border, but not detained.

Her and the kids treatment is inhumane, but she failed to renew a critical visa and traveled without the ability to reenter the country legally. Should she and her kid be detained in Texas for weeks? No. Should she be freely allowed back into the US? No not until she gets the right visa.

A sane system would help her get that visa asap so she can continue being a productive member of the country.