Crow Takes On Trump Administration for Blocking Congressional Oversight at Immigration Detention Facilities

January 12, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON —
Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) will return to federal court against the Trump
Administration after officials secretly re-imposed a policy that stonewalls
unannounced congressional oversight of federal immigration detention facilities. Under federal law, all members of Congress have the right
to conduct unannounced oversight of federal facilities, including those run by
Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). Congressman Crow sued the Trump Administration to uphold this right following his unlawful denial
from an ICE detention facility in Aurora in July 2025. Recently, however, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi
Noem issued a memo requiring Members of Congress to provide seven days’ notice
before being granted access to these facilities. This is an attempt, once
again, to add new roadblocks to oversight and to avoid accountability. The
right to conduct unannounced visits was
recently upheld in December following an
attempt by the Administration to implement the same policy requiring advance
notice from Members of Congress. Crow’s motion urgently asks the U.S. District Court for
the District of Columbia to order the Administration to explain how the policy
requiring seven days advance notice is not a violation of federal law. Additional Members of Congress who were denied access to
federal detention facilities joined Crow as plaintiffs in the lawsuit:
Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Bennie Thompson
(D-MS-02), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Adriano Espaillat
(D-NY-13), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36),
Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), and Lou Correa (D-CA-46). In a joint statement, the plaintiffs said: “In December, a federal court acted to restore Members of Congress's ability to
conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people.
Now, rather than complying with the law, the Department of Homeland Security is
attempting to get around this order by re-imposing the same unlawful policy.
This is unacceptable. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of
Congress, and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly. It is not something
the executive branch can turn on or off at will. Today, we are going back to
court to defend the rule of law, protect transparency, and ensure that no
administration can hide behind closed doors.” Since his election to Congress, Crow has fought to
promote transparency, oversight, and accountability in federal immigration
detention centers. He introduced bipartisan
legislation guaranteeing Members of
Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE
detention facilities, including to check on any concerns related to public
health and the humane treatment of detained individuals. Crow
regularly conducts oversight of Aurora’s ICE detention facility. Since 2019, he
has visited the facility to conduct oversight ten times. Crow’s staff have also
visited the facility more than 80 times to conduct oversight. Public
reports of such visits, along with
conditions at the facility, are published on Crow’s website. ###