DHS Requires 72-Hour Notice for Congressional Visits to ICE Facilities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued new guidance requesting members of Congress to provide 72 hours' advance notice before visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices, while congressional staff must give 24 hours' notice. Although lawmakers retain the legal right to enter ICE detention centers unannounced under the annual appropriations act, DHS distinguishes ICE field offices from detention centers, asserting that the former are not subject to the same oversight provisions. The updated memo also includes restrictions such as limiting group size, visitor itineraries, barring photography and video recording, and requiring advance notice when members wish to meet detainees without a specific individual in mind. These changes have drawn strong criticism from Democratic lawmakers, notably Rep. Bennie Thompson, who called the policy an "affront to the Constitution and Federal law" and accused DHS of attempting to deny congressional oversight of facilities holding migrants for extended periods. The guidance follows recent incidents involving lawmakers attempting unannounced visits to ICE offices, highlighting tensions between Congress and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement transparency and access.