The Trump Department of Homeland Security is taking issue with several House Democrats for their decision to turn to legal action over an unsuccessful attempt to access a Baltimore ICE processing facility. A group of Democratic lawmakers, including Maryland Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with Representatives Glenn Ivey, Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth, and Kweisi Mfume, were denied access to the facility on Monday. Following the denial, these representatives filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully obstructing congressional oversight.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday. American Oversight, one of the law firms representing the members of Congress, stated that at a time when ICE is detaining more individuals than ever before, real-time, on-the-ground oversight has never been more urgent. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., also weighed in, asserting that the Trump administration is blocking Members of Congress from oversight visits to ICE facilities that house or otherwise detain immigrants, which clearly violates Federal law.
In response, DHS Assistant Secretary for Communications Tricia McLaughlin criticized the lawmakers for rushing to court, claiming that the administration has the authority to approve or deny access to facilities. She cited concerns over a surge in assaults against ICE officers, noting that the number of such incidents has increased by 830 percent. McLaughlin emphasized that any requests to tour processing centers and field offices must be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security to protect the President’s Article II authority to oversee executive department functions.
Following the incident, Ivey’s office shared a letter with Fox News Digital dated July 21, in which the delegation informed Noem and acting ICE Director Todd Lyons of their intent to visit the facility. The letter did not appear to make any formal request, and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Ranking Member Robert Garcia, D-Calif., were also included in the letter. Additionally, a letter sent by Ivey and Elfreth to Noem on July 23 requested the immediate release of Daniel Fuentes Espinal, a Honduran immigrant and pastor they claimed was wrongfully arrested by ICE.
The lawsuit includes other prominent Democrats such as Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y., Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Garcia. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between congressional oversight and executive authority within the Trump administration, with the DHS seemingly attempting to assert its position in the face of repeated requests for facility access. The legal battle has drawn significant attention, as it raises questions about the limits of congressional oversight and the role of the executive branch in managing immigration enforcement.