ICE quarantines detainees after confirmed cases
Immigration officials at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in south Texas quarantined several migrants and halted all internal movement after the state health department confirmed two measles cases on Saturday. DHS said it is providing all detainees with proper medical care.
The ICE Health Services Corps immediately isolated those who may have been exposed and stopped all movement within the facility. Medical staff continue monitoring detainees and taking steps to prevent further infections.
Rising measles infections across the U.S.
The outbreak at Dilley comes as measles cases increase nationwide. South Carolina reports 789 infections, its largest outbreak to date. Texas recorded 762 cases in 2025, marking the biggest U.S. outbreak since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. The state officially ended its outbreak in August.
Congressional visit canceled amid health concerns
A spokesperson for Texas Democrat U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro said the outbreak forced the cancellation of a congressional visit to the facility. She criticized ICE for what she called “inhumane and horrific conditions” and highlighted detainees’ limited access to medical care.
The spokesperson noted that the recently released five-year-old boy and his father underwent a full medical exam before leaving Dilley. Additionally, congressional staff who visited the facility last week received measles vaccinations.
History and controversies at Dilley facility
The Dilley facility, run by CoreCivic, opened in 2014 to house migrant families caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The Biden administration initially planned to close it, but the Trump administration reopened it as part of a stricter immigration enforcement policy.
Dilley has been central to high-profile immigration cases, including the detention of children and families. Castro’s office emphasized that ICE holds full responsibility for the facility’s conditions. Officials continue monitoring Dilley and other detention centers to prevent further outbreaks.
