A federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration’s latest move to limit lawmakers’ unannounced visits to immigration detention facilities, ruling that it could violate oversight measures put in place by Congress.
This is the second time U.S. District Judge Ja Cobb has sided with a Democratic lawmaker suing.
Cobb ruled in December that the Trump administration violated a rider in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) annual funding program that guaranteed lawmakers access to detention facilities.
Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reimposed notification requirements. It requires seven days’ warning before visiting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility, which is fully funded by the “Big Beautiful Act” passed by Republicans last summer. The bill does not include riders.
Cobb rejected the policy, arguing that lawmakers’ argument was that it would be logistically difficult to distinguish which costs were funded by which law.
“Defendants’ briefs provide few details or specifics about how DHS and ICE will accomplish this mission in the face of the practical challenges raised by Plaintiffs,” Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, wrote.
The Hill has reached out to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson for comment.
The lawsuit is filed by 13 Filed by Congressional Democrats: Joe Neguse (Colorado), Adriano Espelat (New York), Bennie Thompson (Mississippi), Jamie Raskin (Maryland), Robert Garcia (California), Lou Correa (California), Jason Crow (Colorado), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Dan Goldman (New York), Jimmy Gomez (California), Raul Ruiz (Raul) Ruiz (California), Norma Torrez (California) and Kelly Morrison (Minnesota).
Their latest move in court comes after lawmakers said they attempted to visit an ICE facility in Minnesota three days after federal agents fatally shot Renee Goode.
“The court’s decision today to issue a temporary restraining order against ICE’s unlawful conduct that obstructed congressional oversight is a victory for the American people. We will continue to work to ensure the rule of law prevails,” Neguse, a member of House Democratic leadership, said in a statement.
Lawmakers are represented by the American Oversight Foundation and the Democracy Forward Foundation, two groups that have frequently supported lawsuits against the Trump administration.
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