Arizona Congressman Challenges ICE Over Detention Facility Access
In a recent effort to shed light on immigration detention practices, Rep. Greg Stanton visited the Eloy Detention Center, located just south of Phoenix. His visit on August 5th focused on understanding the circumstances of detainees like Kelly Yu, a Phoenix business owner detained during a routine ICE check-in despite her lack of a criminal record.
Stanton’s visit follows a similar one by Sen. Mark Kelly, who also met with Yu. During his tour, Stanton engaged with 20 other detainees, many of whom shared stories akin to Yu’s. “You know, business owners, employing people, paying taxes, supporting the community, yet here they are in detention, facing deportation,” he remarked.
The congressman’s office released a brief detailing the visit, which included interactions with asylum seekers, long-term U.S. residents, a green card holder, and an individual who had been detained for two years. Despite his efforts to speak with specific detainees, Stanton’s requests were denied.
This marked Stanton’s second attempt to access the facility. His initial effort last month was thwarted by ICE, which cited a new policy mandating a seven-day notice for lawmakers—a requirement Stanton argues contravenes federal law. “I showed them the federal law that says specifically that members of Congress do not have to give advanced notice to conduct oversight at a detention facility. Despite that, I was denied entry,” he stated.
Stanton pointed out that ICE had a total of 11 days to prepare for his visit. In a broader context, last month saw a group of 12 U.S. House lawmakers file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, citing similar access restrictions at detention facilities nationwide.
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