2 Congressmembers Now Denied Entry to An ICE Facility

Adelanto, CA – July 13, 2025 – Two California congressional representatives, Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Coachella Valley) and Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona), were denied access to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center on July 11, 2025, in what they claim is a violation of federal law.

The lawmakers arrived at the facility, operated by the private GEO Group, to conduct a scheduled oversight visit but found the main gate padlocked, preventing their entry.

This incident marks the latest in a series of denials faced by Democratic lawmakers seeking to inspect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centers across the country, raising concerns about transparency and compliance with federal oversight mandates.

On Friday, July 11, 2025, Reps. Ruiz and Torres approached the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, the largest ICE detention facility in California with a capacity for nearly 2,000 detainees.

According to a video reviewed by LAist, the lawmakers requested entry but were informed by a guard that their request had not been approved.

Rep. Ruiz, standing at the locked gate, stated, “This is an illegal action.

This is an obstruction of the law… We have the right to come in and ask questions.”

Rep. Torres echoed this sentiment, calling the denial a violation of federal law and accusing the Trump administration of obstructing congressional oversight.

The lawmakers cited Section 527 of the 2024 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, which explicitly prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from using funds to prevent members of Congress from entering detention facilities for oversight purposes without prior notice.

Despite this, ICE informed Ruiz’s office via email on July 8, 2025, that a new policy requires seven days’ advance notice for congressional visits, a shift from earlier guidance issued in June 2025 requesting 72 hours’ notice.

This change has sparked controversy, with oversight experts arguing it contravenes federal law.

Legal and Political Context

Federal law, as outlined in the 2024 appropriations statute, grants members of Congress unfettered access to DHS facilities, including those operated by private contractors like GEO Group, for oversight without requiring advance notice.

Congressional staff, however, must provide at least 24 hours’ notice.

The lawmakers complied with the 72-hour notice requirement, having submitted a request on July 7, 2025, for their July 11 visit.

Yet, ICE’s updated seven-day notice policy, communicated to Ruiz’s office, was cited as the reason for their denial.

Rep. Torres described the denial as “not just disrespectful, but dangerous, illegal, and a desperate attempt to hide the abuse happening behind these walls.”

Ruiz emphasized the importance of unannounced visits for transparency, stating, “Unannounced visits help ensure transparency and accountability.”

The lawmakers’ visit was prompted by reports of “inhumane and unsafe conditions” at Adelanto, as noted by a prior congressional delegation in June 2025.

Rep. Judy Chu, who visited the facility on June 17, 2025, reported detainees lacking clean clothes and towels, highlighting ongoing concerns about conditions.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of Democratic lawmakers being denied access to ICE facilities.

In June 2025, Reps. Judy Chu, Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., and Derek Tran were also barred from entering Adelanto, despite federal law guaranteeing their right to conduct oversight.

Similarly, lawmakers in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have faced obstacles when attempting to inspect detention centers.

For instance, Reps. Adriano Espaillat and Nydia Velázquez were denied entry to a Manhattan facility, and Reps. Danny K. Davis, Jesús “Chuy” García, Delia C. Ramirez, and Jonathan Jackson were blocked from the Broadview ICE facility in Chicago.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Detention Watch Network, and National Immigrant Justice Center have condemned these denials, arguing that ICE’s new policies are an attempt to suppress authorized congressional oversight.

Anu Joshi, national campaign director for immigration at the ACLU, stated, “Members of Congress are legally authorized to conduct oversight responsibilities, and now more than ever, it’s critical that they demand accountability for ICE’s track record of abuse in immigration detention.”

Related: Pro Trump Farmers Now Admit They Can’t Find American Workers

ICE and DHS Response

ICE has defended its updated guidance, citing operational and security concerns.

In a statement to Eyewitness News, ICE claimed that Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) was granted an approved visit on July 11, 2025, after complying with the seven-day notice policy.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Los Angeles Times that the agency requires sufficient notice—preferably a week—to avoid interfering with executive branch functions under Article II of the Constitution.

Tom Homan, Trump’s chief border policy advisor, added that lawmakers are welcome to conduct oversight but must follow protocols to ensure the safety of facilities, officers, and detainees.

The Adelanto ICE Processing Center has faced scrutiny for years over allegations of inhumane treatment.

A 2018 Office of Inspector General report documented immigrants confined to wheelchairs for days, lack of dental care, and bed sheets fashioned into nooses in cells.

In 2020, a federal court ordered a drastic reduction in detainees due to COVID-19 risks, leaving only three individuals at the facility by late 2024.

The order was lifted in January 2025, and recent data indicates approximately 1,200 detainees are now held there.

Rep. Chu, a long-time critic of the facility, has called for its closure, citing its operation by GEO Group as prioritizing profit over detainee welfare.

Reports of detainees being denied due process and access to attorneys have further fueled demands for transparency.

Lawmakers have vowed to continue pressing for access and accountability.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) announced that his oversight committee is investigating the Trump administration’s restrictions on congressional visits, emphasizing that federal law allows unannounced inspections.

Reps. Chu, Cisneros, and Tran sent a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons on June 11, 2025, demanding answers about the June 8 denial and requesting detailed information on detainee conditions and due process protections.

The repeated denials of congressional access to ICE facilities raise significant questions about the balance between executive authority and legislative oversight.

With ICE currently detaining a record 59,000 individuals and plans for a potential expansion to 100,000 under a proposed reconciliation bill, the need for transparency is critical.

Advocates and lawmakers argue that these restrictions are politically motivated, targeting Democratic representatives in states like California, where immigration raids have intensified.

As Rep. Ruiz stated in a resignation letter directed at Secretary Noem, shared on X, “What will @Sec_Noem
find?

A resignation letter.”

The ongoing conflict underscores a broader struggle over immigration policy and the role of Congress in ensuring humane treatment and due process for detainees.

Also Read: MAGA Now Scrutinize Trump Over Epstein Client List Failure

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