ADVERTISEMENTs
Pramila Jayapal slams Trump’s new ICE detention access rules
The Congresswoman said the new directive from the Department of Homeland Security is “in direct violation of federal law”.
-
Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 19, Jun 2025
- 02:13 EDT
- 16
.jpg)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal. / Facebook
Rep. Pramila Jayapal on June 19 criticized the Trump administration's policy that limits congressional access to immigration detention sites, including field offices, calling it a clear attempt to avoid oversight.
She wrote in a statement that the new directive from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is “in direct violation of federal law” and part of a broader effort to block scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices.
“This is just the latest attempt to undercut congressional oversight and dismantle all manner of oversight related to detention facilities—centers that too often have credible reports of inhumane treatment,” Jayapal said.
Under new ICE guidance, members of Congress are asked to give 72 hours’ notice before visiting detention centers. Their staff must give 24 hours’ notice. While unannounced visits are still technically allowed at detention facilities, lawmakers are now blocked from entering ICE field offices, where most agency operations take place.
Jayapal pushed back on the administration's claim that field offices don’t count as detention sites. “The idea that ICE Field Offices, where immigrants are being held for lengthy periods, are not considered a location that is ‘used to detain or otherwise house’ immigrants and therefore not subject to congressional oversight is absurd,” she said.
“It is our responsibility to do oversight of ICE’s enforcement, and these new policies will not stop us.”
She added that the move is intended to conceal the true impact of Trump’s immigration agenda.
Trump's DHS is trying to limit Congressional oversight at ICE detention facilities. Not only is that unacceptable, it is unlawful.
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) June 19, 2025
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/pzLLCI9Ljd
“This is nothing but an attempt to hide the truth that President Trump lied to the American people when he promised to arrest and deport only the ‘worst of the worst,’” Jayapal said.
During a visit to a facility last month, Jayapal said she was only permitted to speak to two detainees: a woman who had lived in the U.S. for 20 years and was detained days before her wedding to a citizen, and a legal permanent resident of 31 years who is married to a U.S. citizen and has three children.
The policy comes after a series of tense encounters between Democratic lawmakers and DHS staff. In one case, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was briefly arrested for trespassing during a visit to a New Jersey detention
Related
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login