Menendez, Espaillat Lead Hispanic Caucus Colleagues in Demanding DHS End Illegal Restrictions on ICE Detention Center Oversight

Today, Vice Chair of Policy Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) led 21 of their Congressional Hispanic Caucus (“CHC”) colleagues in demanding the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) immediately end their efforts to impede Members’ oversight authority related to inspecting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) detention facilities. 

In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the Members made clear that DHS’s new processes and protocols, requiring seven days’ notice and other arbitrary restrictions, violate federal law and keep Congress from performing its legal oversight. Members have even been denied entry to certain ICE detention facilities entirely.  

“The new restrictions by DHS are a blatant attempt to shield the Trump Administration and private prison contractors from accountability,” said CHC Vice Chair Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-08). “Our duty under law is clear: we have a right to conduct oversight at ICE detention centers, and any effort to block that right is illegal. As long as ICE continues to target our communities, we will not back down. No matter the obstacles, we will continue conducting oversight and standing up for everyone who calls this country home. We won’t be silenced - not now, not ever.” 

“The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is leading the way in demanding accountability from the Trump Administration. We have a responsibility, a calling, and a duty to verify conditions in ICE detention centers and will not relent to this administration to fulfill our legal obligations,” said CHC Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “It’s up to us to use every legal tool at our disposal to ensure the Trump Administration complies with the law. Every official in this government swore an oath to protect and serve the Constitution of the United States - and we in the CHC take that oath seriously.” 

The letter comes amid mounting reports of dangerous and inhumane conditions in ICE facilities—from insufficient food and crumbling walls at Delaney Hall in New Jersey to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions at facilities in Florida and New York. Despite billions of taxpayer funds spent on detention contracts, these problems persist nationwide, raising serious concerns.  

It urges DHS to immediately stop any actions by its personnel or contractors that delay or deny congressional visits, saying timely oversight is essential to ensure those in detention are treated with dignity and taxpayer dollars are spent as intended. 

For full text of the letter, click here.  

Since coming to Congress, Representative Menendez has been a strong opponent of the expansion of private immigration detention in New Jersey. Following the January ICE raid in Newark, he led other members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding answers as to the circumstances of the raid.  Earlier this year, in response to reports that the Trump Administration was planning to expand immigration detention in New Jersey, Menendez led bicameral members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation in opposing this expansion and demanding transparency as to the scope of the plans. Since 2023, he has conducted several oversight visits to both the Elizabeth Detention Center and Delaney Hall and repeatedly called for the closure of private detention facilities in New Jersey. Representing a district that is more than 40% foreign-born, Menendez has been a leading voice in Congress on protecting immigrant communities. He serves as the Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the 119th Congress.

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