06/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/13/2025 14:36
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Reps. Derek Tran (CA-45), Judy Chu (CA-28), and Gil Cisneros (CA-31) sent a letterto Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons condemning the agencies for unlawfully blocking their legally authorized oversight visit to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County, California. On June 8, 2025, the Members attempted to conduct an inspection of the facility in response to a wave of immigration raids across Los Angeles County. Despite federal law guaranteeing Members of Congress unfettered access to DHS facilities for oversight purposes, the delegation was denied entry, even after waiting outside for nearly two hours.
"On Sunday, I visited the Adelanto ICE Facility with Reps. Chu and Cisneros to perform my constitutional oversight responsibility for the health and safety conditions of the detention center. Despite having the right to enter, my colleagues and I were locked out," said Rep. Tran."I won't stand by while private facilities continue to deny lawful oversight requests. We demand transparency and accountability from all facilities holding detainees."
"For nearly a decade, I've visited Adelanto because of its notorious history of violating detainees' basic human and constitutional rights. Unfortunately, it appears that Adelanto's inhumane track record continues as we hear reports that detainees rounded up after Trump's ICE raids in Los Angeles are being denied their right to due process and that even U.S. citizens may have been detained. And yet, our attempts as Members of Congress to conduct oversight at Adelanto, which is expressly permitted by law, were unlawfully denied, blocking us from getting the truth about what's going on behind illegally closed doors. Regardless of immigration status, everyone has a right to due process. We need answers now," said Rep. Chu.
"This past weekend, I joined Reps. Chu and Tran to conduct Congressional oversight at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center, but instead we were met with locks on the gate, no answer to our calls, and denied entry," said Rep. Cisneros."We have a responsibility to ensure ICE is abiding by the law, but they refused to even let us in. We will not stop pressing for answers."
To read the full letter click here.
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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.