ICE Guidance Narrows Congressional Oversight at Detention Sites

Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a policy limiting how lawmakers can speak with detainees during oversight visits, days after a federal appeals court preserved members’ ability to conduct unannounced inspections at immigrant detention facilities.

The memo, reviewed by Bloomberg Law, was given to lawmakers during an unannounced visit to the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on Monday.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons issued the guidance, which says ICE will facilitate meetings with detainees only if lawmakers identify them by name at least two business days before a visit and provide signed consent forms.

ICE didn’t immediately respond ...