In a critical meeting held on Friday, June 12, El Paso’s top public health official, Dr. Hector Ocaranza, emphasized the urgent need for improved communication from federal agencies regarding communicable diseases in detention facilities. Joined by County Commissioner Iliana Holguin, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, Dr. Ocaranza addressed concerns with David Venturella, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The meeting came in the wake of recent incidents that underscored the risks posed by delayed reporting of infectious illnesses. In February, a measles outbreak originated from a private ICE detention facility in Sierra Blanca, spreading to Camp East Montana and subsequently into the El Paso community. This outbreak was exacerbated by poor communication from ICE and an El Paso hospital, hindering local public health efforts.
Delays in Reporting Puts Public Health at Risk
Dr. Ocaranza expressed his concerns in an interview with El Paso Matters, stating, “What I expressed was that we need to have that close communication, because the regular channels of reporting are taking days, and to respond to an outbreak, you need to act now.” He highlighted that in late May and early June, days passed before El Paso public health officials were informed that nearly 180 detainees at Camp East Montana were quarantined due to possible measles exposure. None of these detainees had tested positive for measles, according to Dr. Ocaranza.
The slow communication from ICE poses significant risks to the El Paso community, as hundreds of residents work in these detention facilities. Dr. Ocaranza stressed that infectious and communicable diseases do not know jurisdictionsemphasizing the need for direct communication between ICE detention facilities and local public health officials. “The response is local,” he asserted.
Federal Reporting Structures Under Scrutiny
Currently, ICE reports information about infectious diseases in detention facilities to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)which then notifies state health officials, who in turn inform local health officials. Dr. Ocaranza criticized this slow process, stating, “Waiting for the federal government to go through the CDC to the state to the local partners is going to take many days, and by that time an outbreak can be poorly controlled.”
David Venturella, the acting director of ICE, seemed receptive to Dr. Ocaranza’s suggestions for building more direct communication channels. However, the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the public health issues raised by Dr. Ocaranza.
Congressional Concerns and Public Health Practices
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who organized the meeting, has repeatedly raised concerns about health practices at Camp East Montana, which has faced numerous issues since its opening last year. During a visit to the facility, Escobar was advised not to enter a pod because the detainees had not yet been tested for communicable illnesses. She observed facility staff, who are El Paso residents, entering and exiting the pod without wearing masks or personal protective equipment (PPE).
Escobar questioned the lack of protective gear, which is commonly used by medical professionals to prevent the spread of disease. She was informed that the use of PPE was optional for the workers. “That’s not how public health should work,” Escobar remarked, highlighting the need for stringent health protocols to protect both detainees and the broader community.
