A legal battle over who gets to see inside America’s immigration jails erupted again Monday. More than a dozen members of Congress filed an emergency request in federal court, asking a judge to immediately force immigration officials to let them inside detention centers.
The lawmakers say they are being blocked from doing their jobs and cannot check on the safety of people held in government custody.
The new court filing comes after a standoff in Minnesota. According to the complaint, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is refusing to let members of Congress conduct surprise inspections at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.
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This creates a conflict between the Trump-Vance administration and lawmakers who say they have a legal duty to investigate how taxpayer money is spent and how detainees are treated.
Tensions are particularly high following a recent fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by a federal agent in Minnesota. Following that incident, Representative Kelly Morrison tried to visit the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building to check on conditions. Even though a court had previously told the government they couldn’t ban these unannounced visits, Morrison was turned away.
The legal team representing the lawmakers, led by Democracy Forward and American Oversight, says that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem secretly brought back the ban on inspections using a “hidden memo.” This effectively ignored a court order from December that was supposed to keep the doors open for oversight.
On January 10, 2026, Rep. Morrison and other Minnesota representatives were eventually allowed into the building’s lobby, but they were stopped from entering the detention areas or speaking with anyone being held there.
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Morrison, who is also a physician, said she is “horrified” by reports coming out of the facility. The court filing describes allegations of severe overcrowding, people being shackled, and detainees going days without proper food, hygiene, or legal help.
“As a physician, I am especially concerned about the potentially life-threatening inadequate lack of medical equipment and care,” Morrison said in a statement. She added that the administration broke the law by denying her access, calling an unchecked executive branch “a danger to our democracy.”
The group of lawmakers suing the government includes high-ranking members like Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse and Rep. Jamie Raskin.
They argue that without the ability to show up unannounced, agencies can hide evidence of abuse or clean up bad conditions before inspectors arrive. Joe Neguse called the government’s actions “reprehensible” and said they are returning to court to make sure Congress can shed light on what is happening inside.
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Lawyers for the group say the stakes are life and death. Skye Perryman, President of Democracy Forward, said the administration is trying to avert its eyes from the truth. She noted that people are being swept up in raids and, in some cases, dying while in custody.
The emergency motion asks the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. to issue a Temporary Restraining Order. If granted, this order would stop DHS from blocking the lawmakers and restore their ability to inspect these facilities in real time.
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