EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A big immigration detention camp in Texas has been closed to guests and attorneys because of a measles outbreak, a lawmaker mentioned Tuesday.
There are 14 energetic measles instances on the detention heart on the Fort Bliss Military base and 112 individuals are being remoted, mentioned U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, an El Paso Democrat whose district contains the ability, often called Camp East Montana. It should stay closed to guests and attorneys till March 19 or March 20.
“Whereas on one hand, it’s a good factor that the measles outbreak is being taken severely, then again, I’m alarmed {that a} preventable disaster has created circumstances the place detainees can solely entry their legal professionals just about,” Escobar mentioned in a press release.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Division of Homeland Safety didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The camp opened final 12 months after the Trump administration awarded a contract value as much as $1.3 billion to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a Virginia contractor that had beforehand not operated an ICE facility. Detainees have described a camp the place a median of about 3,000 folks per day stay in loud and unsanitary quarters, illnesses unfold simply and sleep is a luxurious.
