DHS changes policy on congressional visits to immigration facilities after deadly ICE shooting
The Department of Homeland Security has changed a policy that allowed members of Congress to conduct unannounced visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities.
The change, requiring lawmakers to schedule visits at least seven days in advance, came Jan. 8 -- the day after an ICE officer fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis. Federal authorities say Good tried to ram officers with her vehicle.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the move was in response to "escalating riots and political violence" targeting federal buildings used by ICE.
"On January 8, due to escalating riots and political violence targeting buildings and facilities used by ICE, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a directive mandating that any Congressional visits to ICE detention facilities must be made seven days in advance. This was done in order to ensure the safety of staff, law enforcement, visitors, and detainees alike," McLaughlin said in a statement.
Last month a federal judge temporarily blocked a similar policy, but it appears DHS believes it can sidestep that ruling.
"A previous court order stated that funding appropriated to DHS by Congress cannot be used to prevent Members of Congress from entering facilities. However, the court also ruled that funding derived from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is exempt from this limitation," McLaughlin said. "Because all ICE detention facilities are funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Secretary Noem issued this guidance to ensure that DHS and ICE comply with existing court orders. Therefore, requests to enter ICE detention facilities by Members of Congress must be made at least seven days in advance."
Earlier Saturday, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and other lawmakers claimed they were barred from entering the Whipple Building in Minneapolis, which houses DHS and other federal agencies.
-ABC News' Armando Garcia







