AURORA | Despite explanations from ICE officials, Aurora Congressperson Jason Crow said he was the Trump administration violated federal law when it turned him away Sunday from inspecting the GEO ICE detention center in Aurora.
“I was unlawfully denied access by ICE and the Trump Administration,” Crow said in a statement.
On Monday, spokespersons for Homeland Security’s ICE division said that Crow did not give a required seven-days notice before his visit, and so he was not admitted as a matter of department policy.
“In this case, the congressman’s request did not comply with the mandatory seven-day advance notice requirement,’ ICE officials said in a statement to the Sentinel. “DHS policy clearly requires requests to tour ICE detention facilities be submitted at least seven calendar days in advance for scheduling. This longstanding policy allows for the appropriate coordination necessary to protect facility operations.”
Crow fired back, reiterating that the ICE policy violates federal law.
“The Trump Administration attempting to require advance notice for Members of Congress to do their jobs is against the law,” Crow said in a statement to the Sentinel. “Congress has the authority to make laws — and the law is clear: Members of Congress have the right to immediately access federal facilities to conduct oversight. Try as they might, the Administration cannot ignore the law.”
Neither Crow nor ICE officials said whether they would work toward a resolution for allowing Crow into the Aurora detention facility, with or without notice.
“The Department of Homeland Security takes Congressional oversight and visits from Members of Congress to ICE facilities seriously,” officials said. “However, established protocols must be followed to ensure transparency, operational security, and the safety of staff and detainees.
“ICE is committed to ensuring detainees held in its custody are treated with dignity and respect and housed in suitable detention conditions that provide for their safety and security.” ICE officials said. “To ensure good order of the facility, ICE maintains security protocols to promote the safety of staff, detainees, and the local community.”
Crow and others have repeatedly said that only regular, unannounced inspections can provide the transparency and accountability needed to ensure the public can trust that ICE is treating inmates in accordance with U.S. law and within ethical guidelines.
Since elected in 2018, Crow has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure transparency regarding who is kept in private and government operated immigration detention facilities, and to ensure members of congress have unannounced access to the facilities to ensure inmates are safe and properly cared for.
Crow joined forces last year with Florida Republican Rep. John Rutherford to press for new legislation ensuring transparency and oversight at immigration detention facilities. Existing law, however, ensures members of congress unfettered access to the facilities.
“Providing oversight is critical to my job in Congress,” Crow said in a statement Sunday. “Since President Trump was elected, this administration has tried to intimidate Members of Congress from doing their jobs. I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight. I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions.”
The GEO-ICE prison in Aurora has been the subject of numerous past allegations and lawsuits focusing on the mistreatment of inmates, sometimes resulting in death.
Crow has been denied access previously, one time for nearly a month.
“My attempt to visit an immigration detention facility in my community was denied for 24 days, underscoring the need for codified protections,” he said. “Transparency is essential to holding the government accountable and ensuring detainees are treated humanely.”
Most recently, the detention facility reported that two inmates escaped from the jail. Homeland Security officials said local police were to blame for widespread concern about the two escapes. Police rebuked the allegations.
Crow maintains that only unfettered inspections of the facilities can ensure the safety of inmates and the community.
“I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight,” Crow said. “I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions.”
This man’s goal is clearly not oversight, but obstruction of enforcement of U.S. immigration law. He is not representing Americans. Remember this when he asks to be re-elected.
Oh ok. Thanks for the Fox News talking points. And by the way knuckle dragger, Elvis is still alive, the Epstein files are for real, and the world is flat.
Use your head! If Mr. Crow were truly concerned about the rights of the incarcerated, wouldn’t he be visiting Federal prisons as well? He cares not about incarcerated U.S. citizens, only illegals. He helped cause this mess by supporting Biden’s open border policies and is now trying to interfere in their deportations.
Again, just keep repeating the Trump mantra “fake news”
2+2=4 “fake news”. Trump got himself into a world of shit. It worked for a while because dumb asses like you believed it. Now even the dumbest, except you, know they were conned. Are you really that dumb?
I’ll remember you don’t have the vaguest idea what you’re talking about. I’ll remember you saw “Jason Crow” and started typing.
I’ll remember you care nothing for the law if it absolves a Democrat for doing his job.
Now go back to work doing what you do best: Speaking from a bad faith perspective.
I need the laughs.
Jason Crow is representing Americans who want the Constitution upheld, and who believe that Congress has oversight power. DHS does not have the authority to run secret uninspected prisons.
The way I see it is that Jason Crow is excellent in getting his name in as many newspapers as possible, as often as possible and without regard of the topic. You know, just like most liberal politicians. Free advertising.
Just like the recent inspection of Alligator Alcatraz, Democrats saw and reported a completely different entity than the Republicans. If and when Jason Crow inspects the ICE Center, I predict he will report that it is no more than a cesspool. Who will believe anything he says? Here’s the answer to that….Democrats. Why bother to report on inspections or non inspections as politicians report as their party stance requires.
The headliner lead — Crow said. “I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable”. He has spoken…. and now this guy of power demands to examine the facility. Regrettably, when he had the same opportunity to work to stop this uncontrolled mess at the border he looked away and showed us, he was not really that interested in holding Biden/Harris answerable. It’s simple Mr. Crow, because of your deprivation you should have expected – You Reap What You Sow.
He has a right by law to the see the “facility”. Every congressperson does.
That’s true, but his staff does not carry the same clout. But he otherwise thought it would be good to bring them along. His staff, unlike the congressman needs to be vetted and hold their own proper clearance. You know Jeff, just like the Federal process when you come into this county. Business done the right way has some conditions, even for politicians.
I don’t mean to be skeptical but so what? This administration has been doing whatever it wants for months with no repercussions. Unless people, real people, doing his bidding are held accountable this will continue and why not, it works. I don’t know the answer to this lawlessness but whatever we’re doing is not working.
I’m deeply disappointed in Congressman Jason Crow. Rather than focusing on the real needs of the people he was elected to represent, he seems more interested in grabbing media attention. Once again, The Sentinel follows suit, highlighting allegations without acknowledging that earlier claims have already been disproven. Voters are growing weary of the endless political noise and distraction. We need leadership that works for the district, not the spotlight.