AURORA | A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from limiting congressional access to immigration detention facilities, siding with Aurora Democratic Congressperson Jason Crow and other lawmakers who sued after being turned away from oversight visits.
Crow, whose district includes the Aurora ICE detention facility, said the ruling restores Congress’ ability to conduct unannounced inspections, which lawmakers argue are guaranteed under federal law. The decision came in a lawsuit Crow filed in July after the Department of Homeland Security denied him entry to the Aurora facility.
“Today’s decision is a critical victory toward restoring our ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people,” Crow and other plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “It reinforces the rule of law and reminds the administration that oversight is not optional.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., in July by Crow and several other Democratic members of Congress who said they were similarly denied access to detention centers across the country. Those lawmakers include Reps. Joe Neguse of Colorado, Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat of New York, Jimmy Gomez, Norma Torres, Raul Ruiz, Robert Garcia and Lou Correa of California.
The case stems from Crow’s attempt on July 20 to inspect the privately run GEO ICE detention center in Aurora, where officials refused entry, citing a Department of Homeland Security policy requiring seven days’ advance notice. Crow has said that policy violates federal law allowing members of Congress to conduct immediate, unannounced oversight visits of federal facilities.
ICE officials previously defended the notice requirement as necessary for coordination and security, saying it protects staff, detainees and facility operations. Crow and his colleagues argue that such requirements obstruct transparency, particularly as immigration detention centers face overcrowding and allegations of mistreatment.
Crow has made immigration detention oversight a central issue since taking office. According to his office, he has personally conducted nine oversight visits of the Aurora facility since 2019, while his staff has made more than 80 visits. Crow also publishes public reports detailing conditions at the center.
He has introduced bipartisan legislation to explicitly guarantee lawmakers the right to conduct unannounced, in-person inspections of ICE facilities, including reviews related to public health and humane treatment.
The court’s ruling temporarily blocks the administration from interfering with those oversight efforts as the lawsuit proceeds. Crow said he and his colleagues will continue pressing for access to detention facilities and accountability from the administration.
“Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress — and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly,” the lawmakers said.