A group of San Diego County legislators faced another denial of access to the Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse on Monday while seeking to conduct oversight of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center.
Reps. Juan Vargas and Scott Peters, both Democrats representing San Diego, had previously been denied entry to the facility just a week prior.
Joining them on Monday were Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Sara Jacobs, and Rep. Mike Levin, but the delegation was once again blocked from entry.
“As members of Congress, we have the right and the responsibility to enter detention sites in order to conduct oversight without prior authorization,” Vargas stated. “Today, we were again blocked from entering. If nothing is wrong here, why are we not allowed in? What is ICE hiding? We came here to confirm that the law is being followed.”
Vargas expressed concern over the continued denial of access, saying, “After being denied entry again, I cannot say for certain that’s the case. We will continue to push DHS for answers to what is going on here. We will not stand by while we continue to hear reports that people are being held in concerning conditions.”
In response to the repeated denials, the legislators sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting ICE director Todd Lyons.
The letter highlighted a pattern of ignored requests and stonewalling by DHS, raising suspicions that the agency may be obstructing congressional oversight in violation of legal mandates.
Vargas and his colleagues pointed to alarming reports emerging last week regarding increased numbers of individuals being detained in the basement facilities of the federal building during routine immigration check-ins.
They also noted serious concerns regarding detainees being held in subpar conditions, with claims that they lacked access to attorneys, medical care, and proper nutrition.
Despite identifying themselves as members of Congress conducting federal oversight, local ICE officials required a seven-day notice to grant entry for a site visit, which is a new policy implemented this summer by DHS.
Following their initial visit, the legislators reiterated their request for a tour of the facilities, only to receive an automated response indicating that the ICE Office of Congressional Relations staff were unavailable due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
As the shutdown nears its one-month mark, ICE has indicated that all requests for site visits are on hold indefinitely.
This situation poses significant limitations on the ability of Congress to inspect these detention centers, leaving the conditions faced by those detained largely unknown to the general public.
The elected officials emphasized the importance of their oversight responsibilities, particularly in light of indications that the well-being of detainees may be at risk.
“These oversight responsibilities are especially important in situations, like here, where reports indicate that people’s well-being may be at risk,” they stated in their letter.
The delegation also noted that this incident is part of a broader pattern where the current administration has routinely denied access and created arbitrary barriers to prevent congressional oversight of federal agencies.
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