Three Democratic members of Congress from Minnesota, including Representative Ilhan Omar, faced a significant setback when they were prevented from entering an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in the Minneapolis area on Saturday. This incident unfolded near the Whipple Federal Building amidst ongoing protests following the fatal police shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier in the week.
Initially granted access to the facility, Omar and her colleagues—Representative Angie Craig and Representative Kelly Morrison—were abruptly told to leave shortly after entering. Omar reported during a press briefing that two officials claimed they were instructed to rescind the lawmakers’ invitation and deny further access. She condemned this action as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight duties.
The event stirred up a broader legal context, as a federal judge had ruled last month that the Trump administration could not bar congressional members from visiting immigrant detention sites, including those requiring no prior notice. Judge Jia Cobb deemed arguments that ICE field offices were “off-limits for congressional oversight” as violations of federal law.
Despite informing ICE beforehand of their intention to visit, which was initially accepted, Omar expressed concern over the rushing out just ten minutes into their visit. The legislators were reportedly told that the facility’s funding through the Big Beautiful Bill Act was the reason for the denied access. Craig emphasized that this disregard for federal law was alarming, asserting, “They do not care that they are violating federal law. This is beyond the pale.”
Additionally, Omar noted the sight of planes departing from the facility, which officials claimed were not related to deportations, but rather transferring detainees to other locations within the United States. She raised alarm over the conditions within detention centers, citing that officials claimed detainees did not stay long enough to require basic hygiene supplies amid growing concerns for better treatment of detainees.
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between lawmakers and federal immigration authorities, particularly in light of recent tragic events and ongoing calls for more humane treatment of detained individuals. It underscores not only the challenges faced by Congress in fulfilling oversight roles but also the pressing need for reforms in immigration practices and conditions in detention facilities.