February 3, 2026
Measles outbreak at Texas ICE jail holding 400+ children forces lockdown
Two measles cases confirmed at Dilley facility where 5-year-old Liam Ramos was held
Two confirmed measles cases identified at South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley on February 2, 2026. The facility is the largest ICE family detention center in the United States with capacity for 2,400 beds, primarily housing families seeking asylum in the U.S.
Health authorities immediately imposed quarantine halting all movement within the facility. The Texas Department of State Health Services deployed epidemiologists to assist with outbreak containment and contact tracing among detainees and staff.
Facility vaccination records showed only 70% immunization coverage, well below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. The low vaccination rate contributed to rapid disease spread and prompted emergency vaccination campaigns for both detainees and staff.
Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) demanded immediate CDC-led outbreak response and clarity on medical care standards. The bipartisan pressure highlighted congressional concerns about public health risks in immigration detention facilities.
The outbreak exposed broader concerns about medical care in immigration detention. Advocates pointed to inadequate healthcare, delayed medical treatment, and insufficient preventive care as contributing factors to disease outbreaks in detention facilities.
ICE implemented emergency vaccination programs for detainees and staff following the outbreak. The agency worked with local health departments to provide MMR vaccines and establish isolation protocols for infected individuals and close contacts.
The measles outbreak occurred amid broader debates over immigration detention conditions and family detention policies. Critics argued that family detention facilities were inappropriate for children and that crowded conditions increased disease transmission risks.
Health officials warned that the outbreak could spread beyond the detention facility to surrounding communities. Dilley residents and nearby areas faced potential exposure as some staff members and recently released detainees may have been infected before quarantine implementation.
Dr. Lee Rogers of UT Health San Antonio warned Texas health officials that the outbreak will become an epidemic unless addressed immediately. Rogers emphasized that measles is the most contagious virus and spreads very quickly in institutional facilities with significant unvaccinated populations.
The facility held approximately 1,200 people including over 400 children at the time of the outbreak. Dilley is the nation's only current immigrant family detention center, located 70 miles south of San Antonio with capacity for 2,400 beds.
The U.S. recorded 2,267 measles cases in 2025—the highest level in decades—following years of declining vaccination rates. By January 29, 2026, another 588 confirmed cases had been reported, demonstrating a continuing national measles resurgence.
Rep. Joaquin Castro secured the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father from Dilley detention one day before the outbreak was confirmed. Castro had planned a facility inspection that was cancelled due to the measles lockdown.
A similar measles case was confirmed in January 2026 at an ICE detention center in Florence, Arizona. Between 2019-2023, ICE facilities documented sustained transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases including 2,035 influenza cases, 252 mumps cases, and 486 hepatitis A cases across 20 facilities.
Immigration and Nationality Act requires asylum seekers to receive medical exams including proof of vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases. However, DHS personnel did not check detainees' vaccination status until after the outbreak occurred.
People, bills, and sources
Dick Durbin
Senator (D-IL)
John Cornyn
Senator (R-TX)
Texas DSHS
State health department
American Civil Liberties Union
Civil liberties organization
ICE Health Service Corps
ICE medical provider
What you can do
1
civic action
Support medical care for detained immigrants
Advocate for proper medical care and vaccination access in immigration detention facilities. Contact your representatives to demand CDC oversight of healthcare in detention and adequate funding for preventive care and disease prevention.
find your representative at congress.gov
My name is [Name] and I am calling about the measles outbreak at the Dilley ICE detention facility. I urge the representative to support CDC oversight of medical care in immigration detention and demand adequate funding for vaccination programs and preventive care.
2
civic action
Support public health organizations providing care to vulnerable populations
Donate to or volunteer with organizations providing medical care and health services to immigrant communities and detention facilities. These groups help fill gaps in healthcare access and advocate for better health policies.
donations@doctorswithoutborders.org
I am calling to support Doctors Without Borders work providing medical care to vulnerable populations including immigrants in detention. The measles outbreak shows the need for better healthcare access and preventive care in detention facilities.
3
understanding
Learn about public health in immigration detention
Study public health challenges in immigration detention facilities and how disease outbreaks can affect both detained populations and surrounding communities. Understanding these issues helps you advocate for better health policies.
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
I am calling to learn about public health challenges in immigration detention facilities. I want to understand how disease outbreaks like measles can spread in detention and what public health measures are needed to protect both detainees and communities.
4
civic action
Demand vaccination transparency in detention facilities
Demand ICE publish vaccination rates for all detention facilities and implement CDC-recommended 95% coverage standards. The Dilley outbreak revealed only 70% immunization—far below herd immunity thresholds—demonstrating failures in preventive care.
ice.foia@ice.dhs.gov
My name is [Name] and I am calling about the measles outbreak at the Dilley detention facility. I demand ICE publicly report vaccination rates at all detention facilities and explain why only 70% of detainees were vaccinated when 95% coverage is required for herd immunity. I urge immediate implementation of CDC vaccination standards.
5
civic action
Support organizations monitoring detention facility health conditions
Donate to or volunteer with organizations documenting healthcare conditions in immigration detention. The ACLU, Human Rights Watch, and medical advocacy groups investigate facility conditions and push for policy reforms.
info@aclu.org
I want to support the ACLU's work documenting healthcare deficiencies in immigration detention facilities. The measles outbreak at Dilley shows why independent monitoring of medical care in detention is essential to protect public health.