In a significant move, the Department of Homeland Security has recently implemented a new visitation policy, preventing federal lawmakers from visiting an immigration detention facility in Minneapolis over the weekend. This decision has raised concerns among members of Congress regarding their rights to conduct unannounced visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, a privilege affirmed under federal law.
According to federal law, members of Congress have the authority to make unannounced visits to ICE detention facilities. This right was reinforced by a ruling from a D.C. federal court last month, which stated that the law applies to facilities funded by regular congressional appropriations. However, a memo dated January 8 from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, obtained by NPR, has complicated this situation. In her memo, Noem directed her staff to require that visits be requested at least seven days in advance, citing that the facilities in question are financed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a different source of federal funding.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a reconciliation measure passed by Congress last summer with only Republican support, allocating approximately $45 billion for immigration detention centers that have been operating beyond their capacity. This act also earmarked around $30 billion for hiring additional ICE personnel, covering transportation costs, and maintaining ICE facilities, among other expenditures. Secretary Noem justified the new visitation policy by stating that advance notice is essential for ensuring the safety of Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees. She argued that unannounced visits disrupt normal operations by diverting ICE officers from their duties.
The recent enforcement of this policy was evident when three Minnesota congresswomen—Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison—attempted to visit the ICE detention facility in Minneapolis on Saturday. Their visit came during a tense period for the community, following the shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent the previous Wednesday. The Trump administration has defended the ICE agent's actions, claiming self-defense.
Initially allowed entry, the congresswomen were soon asked to leave the Whipple Federal Building and were denied a tour of the facility. Rep. Craig reported that federal agents cited the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as the reason for blocking their visit, asserting that unannounced visits were not permitted under the new guidelines.
In response to these events, Rep. Craig emphasized the responsibility of Congress to ensure humane treatment for those detained, stating, “It is our job as members of Congress to make sure those folks detained are treated with humanity because we are the damn United States of America! And we don't treat people the way this administration is treating people.” The sentiment reflects a growing demand among Minnesota’s congressional Democrats for increased oversight of immigration detention facilities and their operations.
The recent block on congressional visits to the Minneapolis ICE facility underlines the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy in the United States. As the Department of Homeland Security implements stricter visitation rules, the implications for oversight and transparency in immigration detention centers remain a critical topic for lawmakers and advocates alike.