1. United States
2. W.V.
3. Letter

Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight and ensure accountability of executive agencies like ICE. Attempting to restrict unannounced visits to detention facilities by members of Congress undermines this vital system of checks and balances. ICE's new guidance prioritizes concealment over transparency by imposing arbitrary notification requirements, visitor screenings, and prohibitions on recording devices that serve no legitimate security purpose. ICE cannot unilaterally exempt certain sites like field offices that are effectively being used for detention. Denying lawmakers access, as recently occurred in Newark, Illinois, and Manhattan, is a dereliction of ICE's duty to respect constitutional oversight authority. Unimpeded congressional inspection is crucial to identifying potential violations, ensuring humane treatment of detainees, and maintaining public trust in immigration enforcement.