Updated Jul 30, 2025 - Politics & Policy

House Dems sue ICE for blocking access to detention centers

Sareen Habeshian

Exterior view of a prison facility with tall chain-link fences topped with barbed wire, a guard tower, multiple security cameras, and wooden barriers in front under a clear blue sky. — An immigration processing center in Kern County awaits reopening as a federal immigrant detention facility under contract with the ICE in California City, California, on July 10. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images

A dozen Democratic lawmakers accused the Trump administration of obstructing congressional oversight by denying them access to immigration detention facilities in a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The big picture: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities have become a flashpoint between the Trump administration and Democrats who want to inspect the treatment and condition of detainees.

The administration issued new guidance last month limiting congressional access to ICE facilities after several lawmakers were barred from entry while attempting to conduct routine oversight visits.

Driving the news: The suit, which names the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Secretary Kristi Noem as well as ICE and acting Director Todd Lyons, says the lawmakers were all turned away when trying to visit various ICE facilities over the past two months.

The Congressional members called the new oversight visit policy "unlawful," and said the "illegal actions have harmed" their right to conduct oversight.
"These harms are significant, irreparable, and ongoing as long as Defendants continue to block such visits pursuant to their unlawful policy," the suit states.

What they're saying: "Oversight is a fundamental responsibility of Congress, Rep. Jason Crow (D-Co.) said in a statement. "Since President Trump was elected, this administration has denied Members of Congress access to immigration detention facilities and tried to intimidate us from doing our jobs."

The other side: Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said as ICE law enforcement "have seen a surge in assaults, disruptions, and obstructions to enforcement — including by Member of Congress themselves — any requests to tour processing centers and field offices must be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security."

McLaughlin said ICE officers have seen an 830% rise in assaults and requests must be part of legitimate congressional oversight activities.

"As for visits to detention facilities, requests should be made with sufficient time to prevent interference with the President's Article II authority to oversee executive department functions—a week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the President's constitutional authority," she added.
"To protect the President's Article II authority, any request to shorten that time must be approved by the Secretary."
ICE referred a request for comment to DHS.

Go deeper: ICE enacts new policy on congressional visits to facilities

Editor's note: This story has been updated with a DHS statement.

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House Dems sue ICE for blocking access to detention centers

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