Press Releases

ADELANTO, CA – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) today conducted an unannounced congressional oversight visit at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, where he inspected the facility's medical unit, dining hall, kitchen, library, and housing areas as part of his ongoing oversight of immigration detention facilities and federal ICE and CBP enforcement operations..

The visit comes as Rep. Gomez continues to defend his authority as a Member of Congress to conduct oversight of immigration detention facilities. Last year, Rep. Gomez helped lead a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's attempt to block Members of Congress from conducting unannounced inspections of immigration detention facilities. Following the lawsuit, a federal court reaffirmed Rep. Gomez's authority to conduct oversight visits without advance notice.

"I personally sued the Trump administration and won the right to do drop-in visits," said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. "We have to make sure that there is adequate medical staffing, that people are getting their medicines, and that they're getting the care they need. We need to make sure that they're getting treated fairly and humanely."

During today's inspection, Gomez also followed up on concerns previously raised by members of his staff regarding detainees' access to Department of Homeland Security authorization forms. The forms allow individuals in detention to authorize congressional offices to assist them with issues involving federal agencies.

After Rep. Gomez identified that the forms were not readily available in the facility's library or housing units, his staff raised the issue with facility officials. During today's visit, Gomez confirmed the forms are now available in both locations, allowing detainees to more easily seek assistance from congressional offices.

Rep. Gomez has conducted multiple oversight visits, including inspections of ICE detention and processing facilities in Downtown Los Angeles, where he documented concerns about overcrowding, prolonged detention, inadequate access to services, and the treatment of detainees. Today's visit underscores his commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and oversight of a detention system that continues to face serious allegations of mistreatment and neglect.