DHS Restricts Congressional Visits to ICE Amid Controversy

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has blocked members of Congress from visiting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Minneapolis this weekend, requiring lawmakers to give prior notice under a new visitation policy.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a memo dated Jan. 8 and submitted it to a federal court on Saturday, instructing DHS staff that Members of Congress must request visits seven days in advance.

Under federal law, lawmakers have the right to visit ICE detention centers without request.

Last month, a D.C. federal court blocked an identical policy issued in June, ruling that the law applies to facilities funded by regular congressional appropriations.

Before the policy was issued in June, ICE allowed federal lawmakers to visit detention facilities without advance notice.

Secretary Noem pushed back, stating that ICE detention centers are funded by the One Big Beautiful Act, meaning that the policy on unrequested visits does not apply to them.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law last summer, allocated roughly $75 billion toward immigration enforcement for immigration centers, transportation costs, additional ICE personnel, and facilities maintenance, among other expenses.

"The basis of this policy is that advance notice is necessary to ensure adequate protection for Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees alike," Noem wrote. "Unannounced visits require pulling ICE officers away from their normal duties."

This past weekend, Democratic Minnesota Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison said they were denied entry into an ICE facility in Minneapolis. The new policy appears to have been cited on Saturday to block the visit of the three Minnesota congresswomen.

"Moreover, there is an increasing trend of replacing legitimate oversight activities with circus-like publicity stunts, all of which creates a chaotic environment with heightened emotions," Secretary Noem addressed in the memo.