Federal immigration officials confirmed multiple cases of measles at a large family detention center in South Texas, prompting quarantines and renewed scrutiny of health conditions inside U.S. immigration facilities.
At least two detainees tested positive for measles at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, one of the nation’s largest immigration detention centers housing families with children. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it restricted movement inside the facility and isolated those exposed in an effort to contain the highly contagious virus.
Measles spreads through airborne transmission and can linger in enclosed spaces for hours, making detention facilities particularly vulnerable, according to public health experts. The virus poses heightened risks to young children and unvaccinated individuals, both of whom are common in migrant populations arriving from regions with limited access to routine immunizations.
Advocates and medical professionals criticized ICE’s handling of the outbreak, arguing that the close-quarters environment, shared sleeping areas and limited medical staffing make effective containment difficult. Several advocacy groups called for the temporary release of detainees or their transfer to alternative housing to reduce the risk of further spread.
Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican whose district includes Dilley, defended the facility’s conditions following reports of the outbreak. Gonzales said he has visited the center multiple times and described it as clean and well-maintained, pushing back against claims that detainees are being held in unsafe conditions.
Local officials in South Texas raised additional concerns after learning that some detainees were transferred from Dilley to other cities during the outbreak. Mayors and county leaders said the transfers occurred with little advance notice, complicating public health coordination and raising fears of wider exposure.
ICE said it is working with local and state health authorities to monitor symptoms, verify vaccination histories when possible and provide medical care to those affected. The agency did not immediately say whether additional cases were suspected.
The outbreak comes amid broader national debate over immigration enforcement and detention practices, particularly involving families and children. Public health experts warn that outbreaks of measles — once considered eliminated in the United States — are becoming more frequent as vaccination rates decline and congregate settings increase the risk of transmission.
For now, health officials say containment efforts at the Dilley facility will remain in place as they monitor for new cases and assess whether further action is needed.