WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04), alongside Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David Venturella demanding answers regarding the ongoing measles outbreak that has infected at least seven detainees between the Florence Service Processing Center and Central Arizona Florence Correctional Center.
“Given the highly contagious nature of measles and the increased risk of transmission in congregate detention settings, this development raises serious questions about the adequacy of ICE's infection prevention and containment measures,” the lawmakers write.
This is the second reported measles outbreak at a detention facility in Florence this year and in 2016, an outbreak at an ICE detention center in Pinal County saw more than 30 cases among detainees and nine staff members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the letter, the lawmakers demand that more be done to prevent future outbreaks, emphasizing that DHS has a responsibility to protect facility communities from unnecessary exposure. The lawmakers request detailed information by July 20, 2026, on the Department's response to the outbreak, including:
- The steps being taken to contain the current outbreak and prevent further transmission;
- The findings and recommendations from ICE's after-action review following the January 2026 outbreak;
- Infection prevention and control measures currently in place at both facilities;
- Medical care and isolation protocols for individuals diagnosed with or exposed to measles;
- And the Department's plans to prevent future outbreaks of infectious disease in ICE detention facilities.