ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Three Minnesota congressional Democrats, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, were denied access Saturday to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility near Minneapolis, escalating tensions following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an ICE agent earlier this week.
Omar, along with Reps. Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison, arrived at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in St. Paul for what they described as a lawful congressional oversight visit. Omar said the group notified officials in advance and was initially allowed inside before being abruptly told they were no longer permitted to continue the visit.
“This is a blatant disregard of the law,” Omar said at a press conference outside the building, noting that members of Congress are legally authorized to visit ICE detention facilities without prior notice. The lawmakers said officials claimed the facility was funded under the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which they were told allowed ICE to deny access, an explanation the members disputed.
Omar also raised concerns about detainee treatment, saying officials told her individuals were not held long enough to require hygiene products, a claim she said was contradicted by what she observed. She added that she saw planes departing during the visit and was told they were transferring detainees to other facilities within the U.S., not conducting deportations.
The incident comes as protests continue nationwide over the shooting death of 37-year-old Renee Good in Minneapolis and after the Trump administration removed Minnesota investigators from the case. Congressional oversight visits to ICE facilities have surged in recent years, with 165 visits recorded in fiscal year 2025 alone, as immigration enforcement has expanded.
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