ICE puts new restrictions on members of Congress inspecting detention centers
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WASHINGTON — A new Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy requires members of Congress to seek advance approval in order to speak with detainees during oversight inspections at detention facilities.It’s the latest twist in a months-long effort by ICE to restrict such visits by lawmakers, which have skyrocketed amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.California Reps.
Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) and Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) learned about the new policy when they made a surprise visit on Monday to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego.Politics Members from California, Illinois and New Jersey have been denied access in recent weeks to immigrant detention facilities in their states.
Oversight experts say that’s a substantial departure from past practice.ICE allowed them to enter, Levin said, but when the members asked to speak with detainees, local personnel handed them a memo outlining the new policy — dated the same day and signed by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.In it, Lyons calls the visits disruptive and resource-intensive because they pull staff away from law enforcement duties.
Lawmakers sometimes request to speak with a particular kind of detainee — for example, people held longer than 90 days — and Lyons said meeting such requests takes up too much time.“This is an unsustainable burden for ICE employees and a hindrance to ICE operations given the exceptional growth in congressional visits,” he wrote.Moving forward, members must identify detainees by name at least two business days in advance of a visit and provide a signed consent form from each detainee.
Lauren Bis, acting assistant public affairs secretary at Homeland Security, wrote in an email that members of Congress can still request to speak with detainees and that ICE will facilitate their meetings.“These requests must be part of legitimate congressional ...