A federal judge in Washington DC has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can temporarily require lawmakers to provide a week's notice before inspecting immigration detention facilities. The decision allows the Trump administration to keep elected officials out of these centres, despite a previous ruling blocking a similar policy.
The ruling comes after three Democratic members of Congress from Minnesota—Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison—said DHS officials illegally blocked them from conducting authorised oversight at an ICE detention centre near Minneapolis. Judge Jia Cobb stated that the DHS's new policy, funded by Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' rather than existing appropriations, 'facially differs' from the one she blocked in December.
Separately, the Justice Department urged a district court judge in Minneapolis to allow immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota to continue, responding to a lawsuit filed by the state alleging a 'federal invasion'. The Justice Department also appealed an injunction issued on Friday that curbed aggressive ICE tactics, including the use of pepper spray against protesters.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem backtracked on her earlier denial that federal agents used chemical substances against protesters, claiming such measures were necessary to 'establish law and order'. The developments highlight ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic lawmakers over immigration enforcement.
