A group of House Democrats, including several from Southern California, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit alleges that the administration is unlawfully obstructing lawmakers by denying them access to federal immigration detention centers. The Democrats argue that these restrictions hinder their ability to conduct necessary oversight of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.
According to the complaint, the Trump administration has imposed new rules requiring a minimum seven-day advance notice for visits to detention facilities, with some sites deemed off-limits for congressional oversight. The Democrats claim these actions violate their constitutional responsibilities and rights to oversee federal operations.
The lawsuit names ICE and its acting director, Todd Lyons, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its secretary, Kristi L. Noem, as defendants. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the lawsuit a “first-of-its-kind” effort to assert Congress’s role as a check on the executive branch.
The plaintiffs include Reps. Joe Neguse and Jason Crow of Colorado, Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat of New York, Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Veronica Escobar of Texas, and Robert Garcia, Lou Correa, Jimmy Gomez, Raul Ruiz, and Norma J. Torres of California. They are particularly concerned about the use of ICE field offices to detain noncitizens, as these locations are not designed for such purposes.
The lawsuit follows a series of confrontations and legal challenges related to the administration’s immigration policies, including the indictment of Rep. LaMonica McIver for allegedly interfering with law enforcement at a detention center. The Democrats’ legal action aims to restore their access to these facilities and ensure transparency in immigration enforcement.
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