Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar of Texas’s 16th district expressed her frustration after being denied entry to an ICE facility on Montana Avenue. Escobar had given the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) more than the legally required 24-hour notice before attempting to visit the facility as part of her oversight duties.
Escobar stated, “Today, after giving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 24 hours’ notice, more than is required by law, I was turned away from the ICE facility on Montana Ave. where I planned to conduct my constitutionally authorized oversight duties.”
She emphasized that this particular facility has faced numerous accusations of mistreatment and inhumane conditions. Amnesty International recently released a report detailing alleged human rights violations at the site. Escobar noted that she has conducted oversight visits in accordance with legal guidelines, including a recent tour of another ICE site in Northeast.
Escobar continued, “Let me be clear: it is the law that no Member of Congress can be denied entry to facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct oversight.” She accused DHS Secretary Kristi Noem of breaking the law by denying her entry and instructing local staff to do the same.
Section 527 of the FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act states that no funds appropriated for DHS may be used to prevent Members of Congress or designated employees from entering DHS-operated facilities for oversight purposes. It also clarifies that prior notice is not required for such visits.
