Encouraging Members of Congress to visit ICE detention facilities in their States.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 546 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 546

 Encouraging Members of Congress to visit ICE detention facilities in 
                             their States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2025

 Ms. Wilson of Florida (for herself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. 
 Espaillat, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mrs. McIver, Mrs. Watson Coleman, 
  Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. 
 Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Williams of Georgia, 
 Ms. Crockett, Mr. Soto, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Barragan, Ms. McClellan, Ms. 
 Kelly of Illinois, Mrs. McBath, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. 
 Beatty, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Brown, Mr. Fields, Mr. Carson, Mr. Mfume, Mr. 
    Tonko, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Pettersen, and Mr. Davis of 
Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Encouraging Members of Congress to visit ICE detention facilities in 
                             their States.

Whereas the foundation of the United States of America lies in the pursuit of 
        freedom, security, and opportunity for all people, regardless of their 
        immigration status;
Whereas Congress has an essential role in exercising oversight over immigration 
        policies and practices, ensuring they align with the rule of law and 
        uphold the highest standards of human rights;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security has a responsibility to protect the 
        human rights, civil rights, and civil liberties of all detainees in all 
        Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, regardless of their 
        immigration status;
Whereas President Trump fired thousands of Federal workers across different 
        Federal agencies, which includes many within the Department of Homeland 
        Security's Office of the Inspector General and this has led to 
        diminished oversight capacity and increased operational challenges;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security closed the Office of the Immigration 
        Detention Ombudsman, which formerly employed nearly 100 staff members 
        tasked with overseeing immigration detention policies to ensure the 
        safety and humane treatment of detainees;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security closed the Office for Civil Rights 
        and Civil Liberties, which formerly employed more than 150 staff members 
        responsible for investigating civil rights and civil liberties 
        complaints across the department, including in detention centers;
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security has shut down the Office of 
        Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, which formerly employed 
        more than 40 staff members;
Whereas, by terminating these employees, the Department of Homeland Security has 
        abdicated its internal oversight responsibilities;
Whereas the courts permitting President Trump to utilize the Alien Enemies Act 
        further departs from our Nation's historic treatment of immigrants;
Whereas because Congress recently passed the Laken Riley Act, it is anticipated 
        that these facilities will encounter a substantial increase in 
        detainees, leading to overcrowding and other inhumane conditions;
Whereas, on May 9, 2025, President Trump directed the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security to deputize no less than 20,000 officers from local, State, and 
        other agencies for immigration enforcement activities without any 
        commitment to addressing detainees' rights and treatment;
Whereas this culmination of firings of oversight professionals and the 
        deputizing of detention professionals has created a void in which 
        Members of Congress must provide oversight;
Whereas Members of Congress have explicit statutory authority to go to ICE 
        facilities unannounced;
Whereas the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-47) 
        explicitly states in section 527 that none of the funds appropriated or 
        otherwise made available to the Department of Homeland Security may be 
        used to prevent any of the following persons from entering, for the 
        purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the 
        Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house 
        aliens, or to make any temporary modification at any such facility that 
        in any way alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress or 
        such designated employee, compared to what would be observed in the 
        absence of such modification--

    (1) a Member of Congress; or

    (2) an employee of the House of Representatives or the Senate 
designated by such a Member for the purposes of this section;

Whereas nothing may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide 
        prior notice of the intent to enter a facility for the purpose of 
        conducting oversight;
Whereas unannounced visits are the only practical way to ensure that Department 
        of Homeland Security employees and contractors do not alter the 
        facilities before Members of Congress visit;
Whereas congressional visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention 
        facilities can shine a light on the urgent need for better oversight, 
        accountability, and reforms in the treatment of detainees;
Whereas the administration's current practices demonstrate a departure from the 
        declared commitment by the United States to maintaining humane 
        immigration policies and risk further entrenching systemic injustice;
Whereas on congressional visits, Members of Congress saw many more hardworking 
        immigrants being detained than those charged with a crime;
Whereas recent accounts of various Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
        facilities reveal alarmingly inhumane conditions, including 
        overcrowding, detainees forced to sleep on cement floors, and inadequate 
        medical staff;
Whereas these conditions stem from the Trump administration's aggressive 
        immigration crackdown; and
Whereas the ethical treatment of detainees not only reflects the values of 
        compassion and justice embodied in American history, but also directly 
        affects the safety and welfare of broader communities: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourages all Members 
of Congress to visit Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention 
facilities in their States to gain insight into detainee conditions, 
and to exercise their oversight duty by taking steps to address and 
reform inhumane practices.
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