Congressman Calls for Closure of ICE Detention Center Amid Measles Outbreak

Three or more detainees have died at the facility, according to the lawmaker.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 12:02am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty hallway in an ICE detention center, with warm sunlight streaming in through a window and deep shadows cast across the floor, conceptually illustrating the poor conditions described by the congressman.The dire conditions at an ICE detention center, where migrants reportedly must be 'on the ground dying' before receiving medical care, raise urgent concerns about the treatment of detainees.El Paso Today

A congressman from New Mexico is renewing calls for the Trump administration to close an immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, where a measles outbreak is raging and three or possibly four migrants have died. The lawmaker described dire conditions at the facility, where he says detainees must be "on the ground dying" before they receive medical care.

Why it matters

The congressman's statements highlight ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrants in ICE detention centers, which have faced scrutiny over issues like inadequate medical care, unsanitary conditions, and preventable deaths. The measles outbreak at this particular facility raises public health risks both for detainees and the surrounding community.

The details

According to the congressman, the detention center in question has experienced a measles outbreak and the deaths of at least three, and possibly four, migrants. He described dire conditions at the facility, where he says detainees must be "on the ground dying" before they receive medical attention.

  • The congressman renewed his calls for the facility's closure on Monday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Congressman from New Mexico

A U.S. Representative from New Mexico who has been critical of conditions at ICE detention centers and is calling for the closure of the facility in El Paso.

Trump administration

The federal government under former President Donald Trump, which oversees the ICE detention system.

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What they’re saying

“The conditions that I saw inside the detention center are such that people have to be on the ground dying before they get medical care.”

— Congressman from New Mexico

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrants in ICE detention facilities, where inadequate medical care and unsanitary conditions have led to preventable deaths. The measles outbreak at this particular center also raises public health risks that extend beyond the detainees themselves.