El Paso Measles Update: No Active Cases at Detention Facility, But Risk Remains
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Friday that no active cases of measles remain at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Camp East Montana facility at Fort Bliss, Texas, following an outbreak that prompted quarantines last month. Fourteen cases were reported at the facility in February, prompting isolation protocols for infected migrants.
The resolution of the outbreak comes as local health officials warn that the risk of measles transmission persists in the El Paso community. Six cases have been confirmed in El Paso this year, primarily affecting adults between the ages of 30 and 50, according to Dr. Hector Ocaranza, the El Paso City-County Health Authority.
“The people that we are seeing now are between 30 and 50 years of age,” Ocaranza said. “Those adults might not know what their immunization status is, and that might be the reason why they were susceptible to this disease.”
The El Paso outbreak follows a significant measles outbreak across Texas in 2025, which resulted in 762 confirmed cases and two deaths, largely concentrated in West Texas. That outbreak was declared over in August 2025.
“Unfortunately, with the past outbreak that we had, there were some children who passed away because of the measles,” Ocaranza stated.
DHS emphasized that individuals in ICE custody have access to medical care, including vaccinations, routine medical services, and 24-hour emergency treatment. The agency’s El Paso Field Office is responsible for West Texas and Modern Mexico and can be reached for outreach inquiries at [email protected]. The field office is located at 11541 Montana Ave Suite E, El Paso, TX 79936, and can be contacted by phone at (915) 225-1901.
The recent outbreak in El Paso has prompted renewed focus on vaccination efforts. Health officials are making vaccines available at four clinics across the community. “The good news is that this disease can be prevented very easily by just getting the vaccination,” Ocaranza said. “We are making the vaccine available to those who don’t know what their immunization status is.”
In February, the federal government purchased warehouses in Far East El Paso County for approximately $123 million to be used as a massive ICE detention center, with a planned capacity of 8,500 individuals. The facility is located off Gateway Boulevard East near Clint, within the city of Socorro.
Individuals seeking to contact detainees at the El Paso Service Processing Center can call (915) 225-0700 or (915) 225-0717 between 7 a.m. And 11 p.m. To exit an urgent message, call (915) 225-1941 and provide the detainee’s full name, alien registration number, and contact information.