DHS tightens protocol for lawmaker visits to immigration facilities

Key points from the Left

• Congresspersons Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler were denied access to the ICE facility at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan on June 18, despite having the right to conduct oversight inspections as per federal law.
• Deputy Field Director Bill Joyce acknowledged that some immigrants spend nights on floors, but he claimed the site is not a detention facility.
• Goldman and Nadler expressed concerns about the treatment of immigrants and the conditions inside, stating that they may be hiding information from Congress and the public.
• Following the denied access, both congressmembers are considering potential legal action against ICE for obstructing their oversight duties.

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Key points from the Center

• On Wednesday, Representatives Jerrold Nadler and Dan Goldman were prevented from accessing the immigrant detention cells located on the 10th floor of the federal immigration building in downtown Manhattan.
• This followed new Department of Homeland Security guidance granting ICE discretion to block or reschedule congressional visits, changing earlier policy promising compliance with oversight law.
• Additional lawmakers from New York, Illinois, and California also faced entry refusals amid reports migrants are held in harsh conditions, including sleeping on floors without proper meals.
• Nadler stated he may pursue legal action to enforce inspection rights, while Goldman pledged to use committee authority to pressure for authorized visits, highlighting concerns about transparency and detainee welfare.
• These developments suggest increased tensions between Democratic lawmakers and federal immigration officials over oversight access and raise questions about conditions in ICE facilities.

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Key points from the Right

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

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