Congress Still Needs Permission To Stare At ICE Like It’s A Zoo Exhibit

KEY POINTS

•Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced new ICE visitor rules requiring lawmakers to request visits at least seven days in advance.
•The changes come after Minnesota Democrats, including Ilhan Omar and Kelly Morrison, were denied entrance following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good.
•A federal judge ruled lawmakers have the right to unannounced visits, but ICE argues its new policy is funded by ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ money.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem just reinvented congressional visits to ICE detention centers as a bureaucratic episode of 'The Waiting Game'. After an ICE officer fatally shot Minnesota’s Renee Good, Minneapolis Democrats Ilhan Omar and Kelly Morrison got the official finger for trying to investigate on the spot. Noem’s memo demands lawmakers RSVP seven days ahead or beg her personally to poke around, citing some mysterious 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' cash—because oversight apparently competes with budget gymnastics now. Federal Judge Jia Cobb had already slapped down nearly identical restrictions, emphasizing lawmakers’ right to drop in unannounced, but DHS insists oversight visits were too 'circus-like.' Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin promises the new velvet rope protects “staff, law enforcement, visitors, and detainees alike,” which sounds like a TED talk on daycare safety. Meanwhile, Biden-aligned Rep. Joe Neguse is geared up to sue immediately, while Minnesotan lawmakers grieve over Renee and get zoo-kept by ICE’s new fancy playbook. Kudos to a system where government transparency is a seven-day luxury delivery.