Two people being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a center in Dilley, Texas, are being treated for measles infections, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin confirmed in a press statement on Sunday evening that the two detainees being held in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were diagnosed with active measles infections over the weekend.
“ICE Health Services Corps immediately took steps to quarantine and control further spread and infection, ceasing all movement within the facility and quarantining all individuals suspected of making contact with the infected,” McLaughlin said.
The United States and many other developed countries worldwide have been struggling to contain the spread of measles over the past several years, partly due to decreased vaccination rates.
As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 588 confirmed measles cases across 17 states.
The number of measles cases in 2025 broke decadeslong records in the U.S., with 2,267 cases, 762 of which were associated with the West Texas outbreak that lasted from late January to mid-August 2025. Two unvaccinated children from a Texas Mennonite community died from their infections.
The vast majority of outbreaks continue to be among undervaccinated and unvaccinated communities, including pockets of immigrant groups.
Measles is a highly contagious infection. The measles virus can live up to two hours in the air and on surfaces after an infected patient has left a room, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC website on the infection says getting the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is the “best way to protect against measles.” Two doses of the vaccine are 97% effective at preventing a measles infection.
The Washington Examiner contacted the DHS for more information on the countries of origin for the two measles patients at the Dilley facility and whether or not they were sick prior to being taken into custody. The DHS did not provide more information as to how many of its employees are being quarantined or are under surveillance for symptoms.
“Medical staff is continuing to monitor the detainees’ conditions and will take appropriate and active steps to prevent further infection,” McLaughlin said in her initial press statement.
McLaughlin added in her statement that it is “longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody,” including medical, dental, and mental health services where available.
JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF 5-YEAR-OLD FROM ICE DETENTION
“This is the best healthcare that many aliens have received in their entire lives,” McLaughlin said.
The Dilley facility, formally called the South Texas Family Residential Centers, is approximately an hour south of San Antonio. It is where Liam Conejo Ramos, 5, and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, were being held before a judge ordered their release on Saturday.
