Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omarsaid on Jan. 10 she was deniedaccess to inspect an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilityin Minneapolis.
The progressive Democrat's visit came amidnationwide demonstrations against immigration enforcement actionsin Minneapolis and Portland, Oregon, and the Jan. 7 killing of Nicole Renee Good, 37, days earlier by an ICE officer. Omar, alongside House Democrats Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison, also of Minnesota, attempted to enter the federal Whipple Building.
"Members of Congress have a legal right and constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight where people are being detained," Omar said in anX post. "The public deserves to know what is taking place in ICE facilities."
People confront an agent in an ICE vehicle near the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis. Protests in the city continued Saturday after the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed on January 7 by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN) (L), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (C), and Rep. Angie Craig (R) hold a press conference outside of the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Annie Craig had their access to a federal detention facility revoked while touring the building in Minneapolis where the Department of Homeland Security has been headquartering operations in the state." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
People gather near were a 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 10, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
People gather at a makeshift memorial for 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good on January 10, 2026." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
See anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis after Renee Good's fatal shooting
People confront an agent in an ICE vehicle near the regional ICE headquarters at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on January 10, 2026 in Minneapolis.Protests in the city continued Saturdayafter the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot and killed on January 7 by a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.
News outlets reported the three U.S. representatives were escorted past a row of federal agents, who appeared mostly masked.Craig told MS Nowthat ICE officials said to her that the facility was funded by the "Big Beautiful Bill," not congressional appropriations, so members of Congress couldn't enter the facility.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, said the members of Congress were notified that their visit was improper and "out of compliance" with the agency's mandate, citing concerns on safety for detainees and staff. McLaughlin said "existing court orders and policies" require members of Congress to notify ICE at least seven days in advance of congressional visits.
"Because they were out of compliance with this mandate, Representative Omar and her colleagues were denied entry to the facility," McLaughlin said in a statement.
DHS didn't respond to follow-up questions on court orders or policies indicating such restrictions. Members of Congress can conduct unannounced inspections of ICE facilities underfederal appropriations law.
Funds made available to DHS can't be used to prevent members of Congress "from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens," according to federal law. The statute also said, "Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility."
In mid-December, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration's policy requiring members of Congress to request access to inspect ICE detention facilities at least a week in advance. DHS policies, announced in June, likely "are contrary to law and in excess of DHS's statutory authority," U.S. Judge Jia Cobb, of the District of Columbia, wrote in aDec. 17 opinion.
Legal experts previously told USA TODAYthat oversight, especially to inspect conditions with no notice, is key to ensuring safe conditions in facilities.
"It's going to mean that there's going to be no guardrails to ensure safe conditions for people that are detained there," Greg Chen, senior director for government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email atemcuevas1@usatoday.comor on Signal at emcuevas.01.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:ICE denies Rep. Ilhan Omar entry to Minneapolis detention facility
