Department of Homeland Security releases updated guidelines for congressional visits to ICE offices

WASHINGTON (KABC) — The Department of Homeland Security made changes to the policy for members of Congress visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, causing some members to react with anger.

Members of Congress are legally allowed to conduct surprise visits to ICE detention centers. However, the updated guidelines on the department’s website require legislators to provide a 72-hour notice by sending an email informing them of the visit, which ICE claims is beyond the scope of the detention center’s jurisdiction.

The new policy states that ICE has the exclusive authority to deny, cancel, reschedule, or terminate a tour or visit if deemed appropriate by management.

“This unlawful policy is a smokescreen to deny member visits to ICE offices across the country, which are holding migrants – and sometimes even U.S. citizens – for days at a time,” said Democrat Bennie Thompson, the ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. “They are therefore detention facilities and are subject to oversight and inspection at any time. DHS pretending otherwise is simply their latest lie.”

The new policy comes as there have been encounters with lawmakers at ICE facilities, including outside of a detention center in New Jersey, which led to the arrest of a lawmaker.

ABC News contributed to this report.