WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge refused Monday to temporarily block the Trump administration from enforcing a new policy requiring a week's notice before members of Congress can visit immigration detention facilities. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb in Washington, D.C., concluded that the Department of Homeland Security didn’t violate an earlier court order when it reinstated a seven-day notice requirement for congressional oversight visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Cobb indicated that she was not ruling on the legality of the new policy but noted that the plaintiffs' attorneys used the wrong procedural method to challenge it. This lawsuit arose after three Democratic members of Congress from Minnesota were prevented from accessing an ICE facility shortly after the death of a U.S. citizen, which had sparked protests. In light of this, the judge's ruling has prompted further legal action from the plaintiffs, who maintain that the administration's policy obstructs transparency and oversight in immigration enforcement.
Federal Judge Upholds Trump Administration's ICE Visitor Policy
A federal district judge ruled against blocking a new policy requiring a week's notice for congressional visits to immigration detention facilities, raising concerns over oversight.
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb declined to block the Trump administration's new immigration policy mandating a seven-day notice for Congress members wishing to visit ICE facilities. This decision follows an incident where three Democratic representatives were denied access to a facility in Minneapolis shortly after a citizen was fatally shot by an ICE officer. The judge indicated that the plaintiffs' legal challenge was improperly filed and did not assess the legality of the new policy itself. Democratic members of Congress argue this policy obstructs necessary oversight during critical funding negotiations.
