McIver Marks Anniversary of Delaney Hall Visit by Introducing Tougher ICE Oversight Rules

Watson Coleman and Menendez, who were present that day, are co-leading this bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) will introduce the No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act. The introduction coincides with the one-year anniversary of McIver's first visit to Delaney Hall, which led to the Trump administration bringing baseless charges against her for conducting oversight. That case, and McIver's fight to protect the constitutional and statutory authority to oversee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is ongoing. The No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act would protect the necessary congressional oversight Trump's administration has worked to criminalize by tightening regulations on ICE and DHS. Specifically, the bill demands that members of Congress be granted immediate access to detention facilities, without having to give prior notice, in order to carry out their oversight responsibilities and places liability for noncompliance on private contractors.

This bill will permanently codify the existing right of members of Congress to conduct oversight of ICE and DHS. This right exists implicitly in Congress's oversight prerogative of the executive branch, and explicitly in a 2019 appropriations rider. As the Trump administration continues to try to obstruct this right, dismantle it, and criminalize this legal prerogative, the No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act would protect it permanently.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08), who were with McIver at Delaney Hall in May 2025, are co-leading the bill.

"A year ago, ICE tried to stop me from exposing the cruel treatment, inhumane abuse, and their reckless lack of accountability-believing they could sweep their actions under the rug. Since then, the atrocities have only gotten worse. This has been ICE's deadliest year in 30 years and the nation is calling for action," said McIver. "That's why I'm introducing this bill to reaffirm the people's right to have someone speak up for the voiceless, go where others are not allowed, uncover the abuses that we know take place in the dark, and stop the brutality against our immigrant neighbors. I am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Reps. Watson Coleman and Menendez to stand up for detainees at Delaney Hall and nationwide."

"ICE is not the private army of any president or administration," said Watson Coleman. "They are federal law enforcement; they are supposed to work for the American people and be accountable to them. Nothing should be happening inside an ICE facility that would require secrecy or concealment from the American people. The continued effort of DHS and ICE to prevent, delay, and obstruct oversight at facilities is unacceptable, and with this legislation, those contractors who fail to uphold the law will be held liable."

"I am proud to stand with my friends and colleagues, Reps. McIver and Watson Coleman in leading this legislation to protect congressional oversight of immigrant detention centers across the country," said Menendez. "Since we faced down over 20 armed ICE and HSI officers at Delaney Hall last year, this Administration has repeatedly and illegally blocked Members of Congress from visiting detention centers. We are taking action to protect our communities, to end this Administration's lawlessness, and to shine a light on the horrific conditions at Delaney Hall and immigrant detention centers across the country."

In 2025, ICE recorded the deadliest year for people in its detention facilities in the past three decades. Immediate access to detention centers for oversight purposes is critical to ensure those tasked with oversight are seeing the facility conditions as they truly are, not as the facade those in charge may seek to present. A 2020 Homeland Security Committee Report on ICE facilities "failing to meet basic standards of care" found that "as a result of this advance notice, facilities took steps to prepare for the visit by improving conditions."

The No Delay for Immigration Oversight Act would:

• Require DHS to allow members of Congress to carry out oversight responsibilities in detention facilities without obstruction or delay.

• Ensure that members of Congress must be granted immediate access to detention facilities.

• Cancels any agreement or contract between DHS and entities that do not comply with the requirements of the bill.

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