Press Releases

LOS ANGELES, CA — After successfully suing the Trump administration and winning a federal court ruling restoring Congress’ right to conduct unannounced inspections, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) today carried out an oversight inspection of the Roybal Allard Federal Detention Facility (B-18) in Downtown Los Angeles. 

Rep. Gomez was a plaintiff in the lawsuit that blocked ICE from unlawfully denying Members of Congress access to detention facilities. The decisive court ruling forced the administration to reverse its illegal policy and allowed Rep. Gomez to enter the facility after being denied access three separate times earlier this year. 

 

“I fought the Trump administration in federal court and won in order to gain access to ICE’s B-18 detention facility in Downtown Los Angeles to carry out my oversight responsibilities,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “What I saw confirms violations of basic standards and the law: people held for up to 72 hours in a facility designed for short-term processing, with no working kitchen, no on-site medical staff, and food limited to chips, cookies, and frozen burritos. For nearly a year, this administration has unlawfully shut out congressional oversight while detentions surged, concealing unsafe conditions inside. As a U.S. Representative, I will continue using every oversight tool available until DHS restores transparency and follows the law.” 

 

Under federal law (Section 527 of the FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act), Members of Congress are explicitly authorized to visit ICE facilities where noncitizens are detained without providing prior notice. Despite this clear statutory authority, ICE repeatedly blocked Members’ access throughout the year. In response, the Trump administration announced a new policy imposing a seven-day waiting period and barring Members of Congress from entering ICE field offices, effectively preventing real-time oversight. 

 

On July 30, Rep. Gomez joined several other Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in filing suit against the Trump administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. The lawsuit argued that the administration’s actions violated federal law by denying Members the ability to inspect DHS and ICE facilities, including field offices, without advance notice. 

 

On December 17, a U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the Members of Congress, temporarily halting ICE’s unlawful policy and restoring Members’ ability to conduct unannounced oversight visits. The court found the policy to be a clear violation of Congress’ oversight authority and federal law. 

 

Today’s inspection marks the first time Rep. Gomez has been permitted to conduct an unannounced visit to the facility since the ruling. The court’s decision restored a critical oversight tool necessary to identify unsafe, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions inside immigration detention facilities. 

 

Rep. Gomez will continue conducting inspections and demanding accountability to ensure DHS and ICE comply with the law and protect basic standards of care.