US Judge Blocks Trump From Restricting Lawmakers’ Surprise Detention Centre Visits

A US federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from preventing members of Congress from making unannounced visits to immigrant detention centres, ruling that such restrictions violate federal law.

US District Judge Jia Cobb, based in Washington, DC, said policies introduced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that declared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices “off-limits” for congressional oversight and mandated seven days’ prior notice were unlawful.

Court Halts DHS Policy Pending Lawsuit

Judge Cobb halted the DHS rules, which were adopted in June, pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by 12 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives from California, Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, New York and Texas.

In her ruling, Cobb noted that federal law explicitly prohibits ICE from requiring lawmakers to give advance notice before entering detention facilities for oversight purposes.

“The statute clearly bars ICE from requiring members of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility for oversight,” the judge said.

Lawmakers Cite Oversight and Transparency

The lawmakers who brought the case welcomed the ruling, calling it a crucial step toward restoring accountability in the immigration detention system.

“Real-time, on-the-ground visits to immigration detention facilities help prevent abuses and ensure transparency,” the group said in a joint statement.

They argued that surprise visits are necessary due to continued reports of maltreatment, overcrowding and poor sanitation at detention centres, adding that restricting such visits undermines congressional oversight.

Immigration a Key Trump Priority

Immigration enforcement has been a central focus of Donald Trump’s second term, with the administration launching a wide-ranging deportation drive and expanding detention of migrants awaiting legal proceedings.

The Democratic lawmakers contended that barring surprise visits violates a federal law enacted in 2020, during Trump’s first term, which specifically allows members of Congress to conduct oversight visits without prior notice.

Judge Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, agreed with that interpretation.

Previous Clashes at ICE Facilities

The ruling follows a series of confrontations involving Democratic officials and ICE. Several lawmakers and activists have been arrested in recent months while protesting outside detention centres or attempting to enter them.

In one high-profile case, Representative LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was charged with assault in May following a scuffle during an unannounced visit to a detention centre in Newark. McIver has denied the allegations, calling the prosecution politically motivated.

The case remains ongoing, but Wednesday’s ruling significantly limits the Trump administration’s ability to restrict congressional oversight of immigration detention facilities.