DHS Restricts Congressional Access to Immigration Facilities | JQJO

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has imposed new restrictions on congressional visits to immigration enforcement field offices following several incidents where Democratic lawmakers were denied access or arrested. The guidelines grant Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sole discretion to deny or cancel congressional tours of ICE detention centers, requiring 72 hours' notice. This follows President Trump's hardline immigration stance and recent arrests of Democratic officials at ICE facilities. While federal law prohibits DHS from blocking congressional access to facilities detaining immigrants, the new guidelines claim this doesn't apply to ICE field offices, despite immigrants' frequent detention there.