SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Two undocumented immigrants at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, have been diagnosed with measles. This ICE facility, operated by a contractor, has the capacity to hold over 2,000 detainees in family units, and they are currently being isolated in light of the outbreak.
The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the cases on Saturday, as noted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS released a statement about ongoing initiatives to prevent the spread of infectious diseases from their facilities, stating:
On January 31, 2026, the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed that two detainees at the Dilley Immigration Detention Center in Texas are currently infected with measles. In response, ICE Health Services implemented measures to control the infection, which included halting all movement within the facility and quarantining anyone who might have been exposed to the infected individuals.
Medical staff are closely monitoring the situation and will take necessary precautions to avoid further infections. All detainees are receiving the medical care they need.
Comprehensive medical care is provided to individuals from the moment they enter ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health services, as well as access to appointments and emergency care around the clock—often more comprehensive than what many have experienced before.
The facility has also drawn attention due to recent protests in Dilley regarding the January 20 arrest of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, who were detained by ICE. A U.S. District Judge, Fred Beery, released both men in a court order dated February 31, 2026, which oddly no longer exists. The father and son returned to Minnesota after their release on Sunday, where they will await removal proceedings.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that measles can be a serious illness, sometimes leading to pneumonia and other rare complications, with a mortality rate of about 1 in 1,000 in children.
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after over a year without sustained transmission. The decline was largely credited to the U.S. vaccination program and increased efforts to manage infectious diseases throughout the Americas.
Recent reports indicate that the elimination status of measles in the United States and Canada may be at risk, according to a recent article in Scientific American.
