A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centre in Texas has been placed under quarantine following a measles outbreak that has infected 14 people, with 112 others isolated. The facility, known as Camp East Montana on the Fort Bliss Army base, has been closed to visitors and legal representatives until at least March 20.
The centre, which opened eight months ago under a $1.2 billion contract with a Virginia-based firm, has faced a series of controversies, including three deaths. One death, of a Cuban migrant in solitary confinement, was ruled a homicide. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar has repeatedly called for the facility's permanent closure, citing inadequate medical care and poor conditions.
“While on one hand, it is a good thing that the measles outbreak is being taken seriously, on the other hand, I am alarmed that a preventable crisis has created conditions where detainees can only access their lawyers virtually,” Escobar said. The Washington Post reported that an internal ICE document indicates a draft letter terminating the camp's contract has been prepared, though the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) insists no decisions have been made.
An internal ICE report obtained by the Post found 60 violations of federal standards in 50 days, including failures to monitor medical conditions, provide basic safeguards, and enable detainees to contact lawyers. The existing contract runs until 2027, but a closure date has not been specified.
DHS spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated the department is reviewing the facility to ensure it meets standards, but no decisions on contract actions have been taken. The measles outbreak is part of a wider resurgence in the US, with 2,144 cases and three deaths reported nationwide last year, including 762 cases in Texas.
