Bay Area Congressional Democrats Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit to SFO Airport Detention Facility

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Today, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Aisha Wahab (CA-14) made an unannounced visit to inspect the detention facility being operated by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The facility has received scrutiny(link is external) for some detainees being held for days, including lawful permanent residents.

"We are at SFO today to fulfill our responsibility as Members of Congress to conduct oversight and ensure that individuals in federal custody are being treated in accordance with the law," the Members said. "There have been concerning reports of some people being detained for multiple days in a facility that was not designed for that purpose."

The Members were granted access to the facility with no advanced notice, as federal courts have upheld(link is external) the authority of Congress to inspect federal immigration detention facilities.

Rep. Mullin was the first Member of Congress to visit the facility, located in his district, in August. Senators Alex Padilla(link is external) (D-CA) and Adam Schiff(link is external) (D-CA) have also visited the SFO facility this month. Rep. Sam Liccardo's (CA-16) office supported the visit, but the Congressman was unable to attend in person. In June, Reps. Lofgren and Mullin also inspected the California City Detention Center, the largest ICE facility being operated in the state.