ICE furlough of congressional team has stymied oversight, Democrats say
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Demonstrators protest against ICE outside a facility in Broadview, Illinois, on Oct. 24. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images
A group of 15 Democratic representatives alleged Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement discreetly furloughed the majority of its congressional relations team during the shutdown, making it difficult for lawmakers to get answers about agency operations.
The big picture: Lawmakers said in a letter sent to ICE director Todd Lyons that with the team's absence, they have been unable to determine the location and status of detainees, and cannot answer "time-sensitive" questions from constituents about ICE.
What they're saying: "Reporting indicates that detention centers continue to be overcrowded, with increasingly inhumane conditions – yet ICE is ignoring Member requests to visit the facilities to check on the health and safety of detainees," the letter, led by Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas), who is also a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said.
- The lawmakers requested clarification by Oct. 31, specifically asking how many congressional relations staff are still working during the shutdown and who representatives can contact with questions about detainees or ICE's actions.
- ICE did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: Democrats have faced pushback for questioning the Trump administration's policies amid the immigration crackdown.
- The Trump administration issued new detention facility visitation guidance over the summer, requiring members of Congress to provide facilities with 72 business hours' notice before visiting, after several lawmakers were previously barred from entry.
- Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) was indicted for interfering with federal law enforcement, and two other lawmakers claimed officials "released "some type of irritant into the air to push us back," during a visit to a Los Angeles facility.
- A dozen Democratic representatives later sued the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, calling the visitation policy, which they say limits congressional oversight, "unlawful."
Zoom out: Amid the shutdown, ICE has argued it no longer has to provide access to its facilities to Democrats seeking to visit, as "ICE is no longer funding the operation of its detention facilities (including the adoption and implementation of the Congressional visitation protocols ..."
- The court filing is part of a lawsuit brought by Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) and 11 other House Democrats who are seeking to allow lawmakers to access Department of Homeland Security and ICE detention facilities without prior notice.
- The lawsuit claims that blocking members of Congress from entering the facilities is a violation of federal law.
