Federal officials are keeping lawmakers from inspecting increasingly crowded detention facilities.
In at least three instances in California and New York, nine members of Congress have been denied entry, lawmakers told USA TODAY. Their attempted visits as part of congressional oversight come amid protests over sweeping raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies. Advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns about detainees having little access to food, water or medicine in crowded conditions.
As the Trump administration increases quotas to detain thousands of migrants each day, Democratic lawmakers have sought entry to view conditions where people are held inside detention centers, skyscrapers and basements.
“People are going in and they’re not coming out,” Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-New York, told reporters June 10.
Two days earlier, on Sunday, June 8, Espaillat and Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-New York, went to 26 Federal Plaza, a Manhattan skyscraper housing immigration court and ICE offices where they believe migrants are being held. Agents kept them from inspecting the building.
