Why This Matters

The Trump administration continues to expand immigration detention facilities nationwide. A significant number of individuals held in San Diego have no criminal convictions.

Following a prolonged legal dispute, congressional representatives from San Diego County carried out an unannounced oversight inspection on Monday at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, which currently holds more than 1,000 immigrants.

This surprise check represents the first such visit to the site since a federal judge in Washington, D.C., struck down a Trump administration rule that demanded seven days' advance notice for lawmakers entering immigration detention facilities.

Although Democratic Reps. Mike Levin and Sara Jacobs gained entry without prior warning this time, they encountered a fresh barrier: Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now imposing tighter limits on lawmakers' interactions with detainees.

Levin noted that the group received a memo on-site, signed by ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons and dated May 11, which mandates that lawmakers notify the local ICE office two business days in advance, specifying the immigrants they wish to meet.

"This mirrors the obstacles we've encountered in conducting visits without notice," Levin remarked at a post-visit press conference. "Our goal is to obtain a clear, transparent, and accurate view of conditions inside these facilities."

During their previous visit to Otay Mesa Detention Center last month, the representatives were barred from speaking with detainees, and they described the new policy as a shift from practices under prior administrations.

Levin announced that the policy would face legal challenges in court.

An ICE spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the memo, Lyons described congressional oversight visits as disruptive and resource-intensive, diverting detention staff from duties and complicating schedules for legal consultations and medical appointments.

Lyons further took issue with the conduct of congressional members and staff, accusing them of exacerbating disruptions by photographing areas, declining to surrender devices, and resisting security screenings. The memo did not detail specific instances or locations.

He contended that no law or regulation obligates ICE to arrange meetings between lawmakers and detainees, pointing out existing avenues for immigrants to contact congressional offices, such as during standard visitation periods.

"It makes little sense for ICE to grant congressional members or staff more access to detainees than their own families receive," Lyons wrote in the memo.

On Monday, the lawmakers toured detainee housing units, the medical unit, and law library, and tested the food and water quality. Consistent with observations from their prior notified visit last month, they deemed the facility clean with generally acceptable conditions.

Jacobs highlighted positive changes since the last inspection, such as paperwork for contacting congressional representatives now prominently displayed in every detainee unit.

However, Levin pointed to a stark gap between tour observations and detainee reports. Both representatives cited ongoing complaints regarding water access and quality, plus fears among detainees that submitting grievances could invite retaliation.

"We recognize that our visits capture just a brief moment and select areas," Jacobs observed.

Monday's inspection and ICE's updated policy highlight the continuing clash between elected officials seeking broader access to detention centers and immigration authorities aiming to curtail it.

Democratic lawmakers hailed Judge Jia M. Cobb's ruling against the seven-day notice requirement as a victory, though it could prove temporary.

The Trump administration has appealed the decision and sought to suspend its implementation, which would have blocked the lawmakers' visit.

The appeals panel rejected that motion. Nonetheless, the judge who issued the order indicated the government is likely to prevail on appeal, based on arguments that the suing lawmakers lack standing.