More Measles Cases Detected at Jails in New Mexico and Texas
by Jo Ellen Knott
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed a third measles case at the Doña Ana County jail, bringing the state’s total to 13 so far this year, all occurring within Southern New Mexico carceral facilities. According to Searchlight New Mexico, the second case was confirmed in late March of this year, which also prompted a public health warning regarding potential exposure at the U.S. District Court in Las Cruces on February 24 of this year. Adding to the two cases reported at Doña Ana, two cases are in the Hidalgo County Jail and eight at the Luna County Detention Center.
While NMDOH officials believe the federal detainees were exposed out-of-state via Border Patrol custody, the highly infectious airborne virus poses a severe threat in crowded, congregate settings where social distancing is almost impossible. Despite official claims of prioritized safety, the outbreak follows a 2025 surge that saw 2,200 national cases and one death in New Mexico. Advocacy groups, including the New Mexico Prison and Jail Project, noted the terrifying speed of transmission in jails, echoing the failure to keep the detained safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, in Texas, around 170 measles cases have been confirmed so far, with the majority of them traced to federal detention facilities. The largest outbreak is at one of these detention centers in Hudspeth County, as of March 25, 2026. According to the Texas Tribune, 108 cases are at the facility, which is owned by private prison profiteer LaSalle Corrections. It is not clear if the prison is still being used to detain immigrants.
Source: Searchlight New Mexico, Texas Tribune
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