Judge Allows DHS Policy Requiring Lawmakers to Give Notice Before Visiting ICE Facilities

A federal judge on Jan. 19 declined to block the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from enforcing a policy requiring members of Congress to give seven days of advance notice before visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. The order stems from a lawsuit brought by 12 lawmakers, including Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), seeking to challenge a DHS policy issued in June 2025 that requires congressional staff to give advance notice before visiting ICE detention centers. The plaintiffs argued that the policy interferes with Congress’s constitutional oversight authority. Following that filing, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb of the District of Columbia last month temporarily blocked the DHS policy, ruling that the plaintiffs had demonstrated they will likely succeed on their claim that the requirements are unlawful....