Noem issues new order requiring Congress members give notice before visiting ICE detention centers

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a new order requiring Congress members to give a week's notice before visiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.

Noem issued the memo on Thursday, but it was made public on Saturday through a court case filed by Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado and other Democratic lawmakers, NOTUS reported Monday. 

Congress members were to have unrestricted access to federal detention facilities as part of their oversight duties before the notice was issued.

Noem's memo reads: “The basis for this policy is that advance notice is necessary to ensure adequate protection for Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees alike. Unannounced visits require pulling ICE officers away from their normal duties. Moreover, there is an increasing trend of replacing legitimate oversight activities with circus-like publicity stunts, all of which creates a chaotic environment with heightened emotions.”

The memo also cites a federal court ruling last month that had struck down a similar directive, noting that the judge "explicitly acknowledged" that funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act “are not subject to Section 527’s limitations,” which is the federal statute granting Congress members access to detention facilities for oversight purposes.

Noem's new order requires congressional visits be carried out “exclusively with money appropriated by the (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).”

The new policy appears to explain why Minnesota Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison were denied entry to an ICE detention center on Saturday.

Morrison posted on X that the group was initially allowed entry, “and then very abruptly were told to leave.”