ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) temporarily halted all movement at the Dilley Immigration Processing centre in Texas and initiated a quarantine after confirming two detainees had active measles infections. The facility, located roughly an hour from San Antonio, houses parents and children in federal custody due to alleged immigration violations.

Immediate Response and Containment

The measles cases were identified on Friday, according to a statement from Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin. ICE Health Services Corps responded by immediately ceasing all movement within the facility and quarantining individuals suspected of contact with those infected. Medical officials are actively monitoring detainees and providing medical care.

Did You Know? In 2025, the United States recorded more than 2,200 measles cases nationwide, including 762 in West Texas, resulting in the hospitalization of 99 people and the deaths of two young children.

Concerns from Legal Advocates

Prior to the Department of Homeland Security’s statement, immigration lawyers had reportedly expressed concerns about a potential measles outbreak at the Dilley centre. Neha Desai, a lawyer representing children in U.S. Immigration custody with the National centre of Youth Law, stated her hope that the infections would not be used to restrict access for lawmakers and attorneys inspecting the detention centre. Desai also emphasized concerns for the physical and mental health of families detained at Dilley, stating that family detention is a choice made by the administration.

Broader Context of Detention and Rising Cases

The Dilley facility recently held 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, who were released over the weekend following a court ruling and have since returned to Minnesota. ICE’s detention population has significantly increased under the current administration, which has pledged a large-scale deportation crackdown. Currently, ICE is holding more than 70,000 individuals facing deportation, a substantial increase from approximately 40,000 a year ago.

Expert Insight: The rapid increase in ICE’s detention population, coupled with the outbreak of a highly contagious disease like measles, highlights the inherent challenges of maintaining public health within confined settings and the potential for rapid transmission among vulnerable populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What action did ICE take upon discovering the measles cases?

ICE immediately halted all movement within the Dilley Immigration Processing centre and quarantined individuals suspected of contact with the infected detainees. Medical officials are monitoring detainees and providing medical care.

What concerns were raised by immigration lawyers?

Neha Desai, a lawyer with the National centre of Youth Law, expressed concern that the measles infections might be used to limit access to the detention centre for oversight purposes and emphasized the need to address the physical and mental health of detained families.

How has the ICE detention population changed recently?

ICE’s detention population has more than doubled in the past year, increasing from around 40,000 detainees to over 70,000, coinciding with a stated commitment to increased deportation efforts.

What impact will this outbreak have on the broader debate surrounding immigration detention policies?

ICE halts “all movement” at Texas detention facility due to measles infections