AURORA | A federal court has ordered the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to temporarily restore unannounced congressional access to immigration jails, officials from Aurora Democratic Rep. Jason Crow’s office said in a statement.
The order grants emergency relief to a Crow and group of Democratic lawmakers who sued the Trump administration over what they say are unlawful restrictions on oversight.
“Following the law is not optional,” Crow said in a statement.
He said 2025 was the deadliest year at federal immigration detention facilities in decades and accused the administration of operating with “virtually no transparency or accountability.”
For years, Crow has pushed for unfettered access to inspect the privately owned GEO ICE detention facility in Aurora.
The latest ruling comes after months of escalating conflict between members of Congress and the administration over access to ICE detention centers, including the Aurora facility, where Crow was turned away last summer.
Lawmakers say the administration has repeatedly put up procedural roadblocks to prevent unannounced inspections required under federal law.
Crow and other members of Congress sued in July after ICE officials denied him entry, citing a department policy requiring seven days’ advance notice. The policy was imposed in January by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, according to the lawsuit, without public announcement.
Under federal law, members of Congress are allowed to conduct unannounced oversight visits of facilities used for immigration detention, including those operated by private contractors.
The court order Monday temporarily blocks the notice requirement while the case proceeds.
ICE officials have said the notice policy is necessary for security and coordination, arguing it allows facilities to protect staff, detainees and operations.
DHS has said it takes congressional oversight seriously but insists established protocols must be followed.
Crow and other lawmakers have rejected that explanation, saying the notice requirement violates federal law and undermines Congress’ duty to oversee executive agencies, particularly as immigration detention has expanded under President Donald Trump’s policies and drawn serious questions about potential abuse.
The lawsuit initially stemmed from Crow’s July 20 attempt last year to inspect the GEO Group-run ICE detention center in Aurora, where he said he was denied access despite his right to conduct an unannounced visit. ICE later said Crow failed to comply with the notice policy.
Crow said at the time that the denial was part of a broader effort by the administration to obstruct oversight nationwide. He and other lawmakers compared experiences and concluded ICE was blocking lawful visits at facilities across the country.
Twelve other House Democrats joined Crow as plaintiffs, including Reps. Joe Neguse, of Boulder, 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, and Kelly Morrison of Minnesota.
The dispute has grown as ICE detention facilities have faced mounting scrutiny amid reports of overcrowding, food shortages, inadequate medical care and unsanitary conditions. A recently passed federal budget dramatically expanded funding for ICE detention, a move lawmakers say heightens the need for independent oversight.
Crow has regularly inspected the Aurora facility since 2019, visiting it 10 times, according to his office. His staff has conducted more than 80 oversight visits. Reports from those inspections are publicly posted on his website.
While the lawsuit includes only Democrats, Crow has said some Republican lawmakers have also expressed concerns about the administration’s handling of oversight but have not joined the case.
Crow said unannounced inspections are essential to ensuring detainees are treated humanely and in accordance with the law, particularly as the administration moves to expand detention operations nationwide.
The court’s order temporarily restores lawmakers’ ability to conduct those visits while the legal challenge continues.