Kelly, Arizona Democrats Demand Answers on Measles Outbreak in Arizona ICE Detention Centers

This week, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), alongside Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), demanded answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David Venturella regarding the latest, ongoing measles outbreak in Arizona ICE detention facilities. The letter is in response to the confirmed measles cases at the Florence Service Processing Center and the 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," wrote the lawmakers.

This is the second reported measles outbreak at a detention facility in Florence this year.

In the letter, the lawmakers demand that more be done to prevent future outbreaks, emphasizing that DHS has a responsibility to protect all those in the facility, from detained individuals to personnel to the surrounding communities, from exposure to this highly contagious disease. 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.

Click here to read the full text of the letter.