Wednesday, February 4, 2026-A measles outbreak has erupted at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, forcing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to quarantine the facility and halt all internal movement after two detainees tested positive for the highly contagious virus.
Federal officials confirmed the outbreak this week and said medical teams from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE Health Services Corps were deployed immediately to contain the spread and monitor those exposed.
The situation has raised serious concern among lawmakers, public health experts, and immigrant advocacy groups, as the facility houses families and large numbers of children in close living conditions where measles can spread rapidly.
While ICE has restricted movement and isolated affected individuals, critics argue the outbreak highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in detention centers, particularly around disease prevention, vaccination access, and emergency medical response.
Health officials warn the outbreak comes amid a wider national increase in measles cases, intensifying the urgency of containment efforts. Public health leaders are calling for stronger safeguards, clearer transparency, and faster preventive measures to protect detainees, staff, and nearby communities as authorities work to prevent further transmission.
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