Crow Granted Emergency Relief in Lawsuit to Uphold Congressional Oversight of Federal Immigration Detention Facilities

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), along with 12 other plaintiffs, were  granted emergency relief in his lawsuit to uphold congressional oversight at federal immigration detention facilities. A federal court ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily restore Members’ right to unannounced congressional oversight of federal detention facilities. 

Under federal law, Members of Congress have the right to conduct unannounced oversight of DHS facilities used for immigration detention, including facilities run by ICE and those operated by private companies. However in January, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem secretly imposed a policy requiring that Members of Congress provide seven days’ notice before being granted access to federal immigration detention facilities. 

“Following the law is not optional,” said Congressman Crow. “2025 was the deadliest year at federal immigration facilities in decades. The Trump administration is using billions of taxpayer dollars to carry out a violent and lawless immigration agenda with virtually no transparency or accountability. Today’s ruling was another victory on behalf of oversight and work to hold this administration accountable.”

In July 2025, Congressman Crow sued the Trump Administration after it unlawfully denied him from a federal detention facility in Aurora.

Additional Members of Congress who were recently denied access to federal immigration detention facilities joined Crow as plaintiffs in the lawsuit: Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), and Kelly Morrison (MN-03).

Since his election to Congress, Crow has fought to promote transparency, oversight, and accountability in federal immigration detention centers. He introduced bipartisan legislation guaranteeing Members of Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE detention facilities, including to check on any concerns related to public health and the humane treatment of detained individuals.

Crow regularly conducts oversight of Aurora’s immigration detention facility. Since 2019, he has visited the facility to conduct oversight ten times. Crow’s staff have also visited the facility more than 80 times to conduct oversight. Public reports of such visits, along with conditions at the facility, are published on Crow’s website.

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