The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has introduced new regulations mandating that lawmakers provide three days’ notice before visiting its facilities.
This change comes despite federal law granting members of Congress the right to inspect immigration detention sites without prior notification for oversight purposes.
ICE’s updated protocol distinguishes between detention centres and field offices, asserting that the latter are not used for housing detained migrants. These revised rules emerge amidst criticism from Democratic lawmakers regarding access to ICE facilities during the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Several Democratic representatives have recently been denied entry to ICE locations, leading to confrontations with federal agents.
The new rules, a departure from previous February guidelines that lacked such a requirement, stipulate a 72-hour notice for congressional visits.
Additionally, ICE retains the discretion to “deny a request or otherwise cancel, reschedule, or terminate a tour or visit,” and political activities at its facilities have also been restricted.
Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson strongly condemned the policy on Thursday, labelling it “unprecedented” and “an affront to the Constitution and federal law,” asserting that “ICE is not above oversight and the Department must follow the law.”
