The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a new policy that restricts congressional visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, sparking controversy and demands for greater oversight. Under the previous federal law, members of Congress had the right to make unannounced visits to these facilities, but a recent memo from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has changed the rules.
The memo, obtained by NPR, instructs that visits should be requested at least seven days in advance. Noem argues that the detention facilities are funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is separate from the regular congressional appropriations. This act, passed last summer with only Republican support, allocated billions for immigration detention centers and ICE personnel. Noem believes that advance notice is necessary to ensure the safety of all involved, including Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees.
However, this new policy was seemingly used to block the visit of three Minnesota congresswomen, including Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison, to an ICE detention facility in Minneapolis. The visit was initially allowed but was quickly halted, preventing the congresswomen from touring the facility.
Rep. Craig expressed her frustration, stating that it is the duty of Congress to ensure humane treatment for detainees. She emphasized that the United States should not be treating people the way the current administration is doing. The situation is particularly tense in Minneapolis, where an ICE agent recently shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good, with the Trump administration justifying the action as self-defense.
The deployment of over 2,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota has further heightened tensions. The congresswomen's visit and the subsequent restriction have sparked debates about the balance between oversight and security, leaving many questioning the implications of the new DHS policy.
