Auchincloss, Amo, Balint Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit to Burlington ICE Facility

Skip to content Close About Meet Jake Issues Committees & Caucuses Sponsored Legislation Our District Newsroom Press Releases In The News eNewsletters Videos Services Help With A Federal Agency App Challenge Art Competition Commendations And Greetings Community Resources List Flags Whistleblower Tipline FY27 Community Project Funding Requests FY26 Community Project Funding Requests FY25 Community Project Funding Requests Archived Project Requests Grant Applicants Internships Military Academy Nominations Tours And Tickets Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Help With A Federal Agency Request An Appearance Website Problem Press Inquiries Clinical Trial Feedback Português Close SEARCH About Meet Jake Issues Committees & Caucuses Sponsored Legislation Our District Newsroom Press Releases In The News eNewsletters Videos Services Help With A Federal Agency App Challenge Art Competition Commendations And Greetings Community Resources List Flags Whistleblower Tipline FY27 Community Project Funding Requests FY26 Community Project Funding Requests FY25 Community Project Funding Requests Archived Project Requests Grant Applicants Internships Military Academy Nominations Tours And Tickets Contact Email Me Newsletter Subscribe Office Locations Help With A Federal Agency Request An Appearance Website Problem Press Inquiries Clinical Trial Feedback Português Search Modal Search Button Site Search Field Submit Search MENU Facebook Logo Twitter Logo BlueSky Logo Instagram Logo Youtube Logo Home Newsroom Press Releases October 16, 2026 Auchincloss, Amo, Balint Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit to Burlington ICE Facility FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Georgina.Burros@mail.house.gov The Burlington, Massachusetts U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility serves as the New England regional headquarters and field office. Burlington, MA – TODAY, Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), and Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-VT-AL) conducted an unannounced congressional oversight visit to the Burlington Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. This site is a short-term facility, designed to temporarily detain individuals for no longer than 12 hours. Under the Trump administration, there have been consistent reports of ICE detainees being held there for days without proper food, beds, or showers. Congressman Auchincloss previously conducted an oversight visit of the Burlington ICE facility in June of 2025. During this visit, the lawmakers asked detailed questions about access to legal counsel, the treatment of people in ICE custody, and whether the facility was complying with federal law. “Today I conducted an unannounced inspection of the Burlington ICE facility. Persistent congressional oversight, in concert with public pressure, has driven modest improvements to detention operations over the past year since my previous inspection in June of 2025. I will continue oversight and accountability measures in pursuit of due process and human dignity,” said Congressman Auchincloss (D-MA). “ICE and Border Patrol continue to negatively impact our communities and that’s why I conducted my congressional oversight with a visit to the Burlington facility unannounced,” said Congressman Gabe Amo (D-RI) . “During my inspection of the Burlington facility with Congressman Auchincloss and Congresswoman Balint, we witnessed individuals held for processing, questioned ICE regarding our constituents’ concerns, and pressed for more humane treatment of those in custody. I will not stop advocating for safe communities, due process, and humane immigration reform.” “Vermonters deserve answers about what’s happening to people from our state who are being held in ICE custody,” said Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL). “This facility was designed for stays of no more than 12 hours, but people have been held for days without basic necessities. We went in unannounced because we wanted to see the conditions for ourselves and get answers. ICE has a responsibility to treat people humanely and follow the law, and we’re going to hold them to it.” Please find below excerpts of Rep. Auchincloss’ remarks from the media briefing, lightly edited for clarity: “ We conducted a congressionally authorized, unannounced inspection of this Burlington facility, and met with leadership, as well as reviewed and inspected the facilities in which the detainees are held. We asked detailed questions regarding medical care, access to legal services, dietary procedures and nutrition, the detainee processing protocols, procedures, and timelines, as well as the nature of operations throughout the region, to target detainees and then to pass detainees along to more permanent facilities. What we have seen is that because of sustained congressional oversight and accountability, and because of sustained public pressure, there is a trend towards more targeted enforcement operations. Yet, there is persistent broken trust between this fai