Measles Outbreak Looms in ICE Facility in Texas, 2 Children Already Infected with Deadly Disease

Health experts and politicians are warning of a potential public health crisis following the confirmation of two measles cases at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. The facility, which houses detained immigrant families, has been placed under lockdown to prevent the spread of the highly contagious airborne virus. Congressman Joaquin Castro has called for the immediate shutdown of the facility, arguing that the congregate living conditions—described as 'epidemic engines'—make effective isolation nearly impossible. The outbreak occurs amidst a broader national surge in measles cases across states like South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah, where vaccination rates have declined. Experts warn that the virus could easily spread beyond the facility's walls to staff and the surrounding community.