Jun 20, 2025 - Politics & Policy

ICE enacts new policy on congressional visits to facilities

April Rubin

A sign points to an ICE court proceeding room — Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) arrives to observe court proceedings at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 18. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

The Trump administration has issued guidance limiting congressional access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities after several lawmakers were barred from entry while attempting to conduct routine oversight visits.

The big picture: Democrats and the Trump administration have clashed over access to detention facilities for weeks, prompting some lawmakers to question what the administration doesn't want them to discover as the government works to enact President Trump's immigration agenda.

Encounters at detention facilities between lawmakers and federal agents have resulted in skirmishes, including an incident in Newark, New Jersey, that led to Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) being indicted for interfering with federal law enforcement.
During a visit to a Los Angeles facility, Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) and Norma Torres (D-Calif.) claimed ICE officials released "some type of irritant into the air to push us back."

Driving the news: The new policy requires members of Congress to request visits to their facilities with 72 business hours' notice.

Members of Congress are not required to provide advance notice for site visits to ICE detention facilities but the new policy blocks them from unannounced visits to ICE field offices, which are hubs for immigration enforcement.
Congressional office staffers are required to provide 24 hours' notice to enter ICE detention facilities.

What we're watching: "ICE retains the sole and unreviewable discretion to deny a request or otherwise cancel, reschedule or terminate a tour visit," the policy said.

It includes stipulations about emergencies, safety, operational concerns, failure to comply with facility personnel or if ICE officials deem it official.
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) in a Wednesday statement said the policy is "an affront to the Constitution and federal law."

Zoom in: ICE also limits lawmaker interactions with detainees, requiring advance notice of who they'd like to speak with.

For meetings with non-specific detainees, lawmakers must provide 48 hours' notice for sign ups.

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ICE enacts new policy on congressional visits to facilities

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