WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Summer Lee (PA-12), and Chris Deluzio (PA-17) introduced the Oversight Access Act to allow Members of Congress to bring one staff member inside Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities when conducting congressional oversight without prior notice.
In June, Congresswoman Dean conduted oversigt at the Moshannon Valley Detention Center — which began operating as an ICE facility in 2021 — in Philipsburg, PA on an announced visit. Although she was permitted to bring staff, Rep. Dean was blocked from speaking directly with people detained. In May, Congressman Deluzio and Congresswoman Lee conducted unannounced oversight. However, their staff members were not permitted to enter the ICE facility.
Under a current Trump Administration rule, U.S. Representatives can enter the facility unannounced but interpreters and other staff must receive prior approval, defeating the purpose of unannounced oversight visits. This bill would allow for additional translation services and more capacity to conduct oversight.
“Congress has a solemn duty to conduct oversight at ICE facilities in Pennsylvania and across the country, but ICE’s arbitrary rules have made that more difficult. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I care deeply about ensuring that any facility receiving federal dollars lives up to the highest standards of care, decency, and safety. I am grateful to Congressman Deluzio, Congresswoman Scanlon, Congresswoman Lee, and Congressman Evans for their partnership on this critical legislation, which would strengthen Congressional oversight and make it easier for members of Congress and our staff to visit ICE facilities unannounced," Rep. Dean said.
“Over the past year and a half, we have seen numerous reports of inhumane, even deadly conditions of ICE detention facilities. I’m proud to join this effort to demand more transparency and oversight of the Trump-Vance Administration’s actions," Rep. Evans said.
“When a Member of Congress visits an ICE detention facility to conduct congressional oversight, they must be able to do so effectively. That includes being able to bring an essential staff member or interpreter to support this critical duty. I am proud to lead the Oversight Access Act with Reps. Deluzio, Dean, Lee, and Evans to ensure that future unannounced oversight visits include a staff member," Rep. Scanlon said.
“Congressional oversight works when Members of Congress have the proper tools they need, and our staff play a critical role in that work, from providing translation services to bringing legal and policy expertise to the table. It’s been made clear abuse, neglect, and inhumane conditions have plagued detention centers. Members of Congress have a?constitutional responsibility and right to conduct oversight, and we must be able to do our jobs without obstruction or intimidation. No administration is above accountability," Rep. Lee said.
“Moshannon officials blocked my staff from joining our oversight visit this May, and it limited the conversations we could have with people detained inside. Unannounced congressional oversight visits to federal facilities are powerful and important accountability measures. However, unannounced oversight would be far stronger if Members of Congress could be accompanied by a staff member who could provide translation services, legal guidance, or policy expertise. I’m introducing the Oversight Access Act to make this fix and expand congressional oversight at ICE facilities," Rep. Deluzio said.
Specifically, the Oversight Access Act would:
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Remove the requirement of prior notice for a Member or an employee to enter any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security;
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Prohibit temporary modification in any such facility that would alter what is observed by a Member of Congress while conducting oversight; and
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Prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from preventing Members of Congress and congressional employees accompanying a Member from entering a facility with the purpose of conducting oversight.
Read the full text of the bill here.
Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.
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