ICE Seeks to Restrict Congressional Oversight Amid Accountability Push

The Trump Administration's ICE agency has been repeatedly defying federal law by denying Congressional members access to immigration detention facilities, a practice that undermines constitutional oversight and raises concerns about subpar detention conditions. ICE released new guidance attempting to require advance notice and impose strict restrictions on Congressional visits, despite legal provisions that explicitly allow unannounced visits for oversight purposes. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's policy to block or restrict access to ICE Field Offices has been condemned by lawmakers, including Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, who called it an unprecedented affront to the Constitution and federal law. In response to ongoing abuses and lack of transparency, Rep. Maxwell Frost introduced the Stop Unlawful Detention and End Mistreatment (SUDEM) Act, which seeks to increase public accountability by mandating ICE facilities to publicly report detention details and uphold due process rights. Frost and allied advocacy groups have criticized the Trump Administration for what they describe as a taxpayer-funded program that abuses immigrant communities, including U.S. citizens. Overall, these developments highlight escalating tensions between Congress and ICE over oversight and the treatment of detainees under the current administration.