DILLEY, TX — Two people held at the South Texas Family Residential Center have been diagnosed with measles, leading federal officials to stop anyone from entering or leaving the facility.
Medical staff at the center first identified the infections on Friday, Jan. 30. On Sunday, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have quarantined anyone who may have been exposed. This measure was taken to keep the virus from spreading.
While travel in and out of the center is currently stopped, medical staff said they will continue to provide care and monitor the health of everyone inside. It is not yet clear how long these restrictions will last.
According to a report by CBS News, a judge ordered the release of a father and his 5-year-old son just before the facility was locked down. They left the center on Saturday, Jan. 31, and arrived in Minneapolis the following day.
National Measles Surge
The Texas cases come at a time when measles infections are rapidly increasing across the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health officials have confirmed at least 588 cases across 17 states so far this year. The U.S. hit that total in just one month, which is more cases than the country usually sees in a full year.
These cases include infections in states such as California, Arizona, and Florida. This surge follows a major spike in 2025, when the nation recorded more than 2,200 cases. That total included an outbreak in West Texas that infected 762 people, resulting in 99 hospitalizations and the deaths of two young children.
The Dilley outbreak occurs as federal detention centers become more crowded. According to ICE, the number of people in detention has reached 70,000. That is a significant jump from the 40,000 detainees reported at this time last year.
Vaccination and Monitoring Concerns
Health experts point to vaccination as the best way to stop these surges. The CDC notes that two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles, while a single dose provides about 93% protection.
However, national vaccination rates have dropped. Among kindergartners, vaccination levels fell from 95.2% during the 2019-2020 school year to 92.5% in the 2024-2025 school year.
Attorneys from the National Center for Youth Law and other groups have raised concerns about the facility's response. Advocates worry officials might use the health crisis and new rules to block outside groups from checking on the families’ health and living conditions.
