Larson Illegally Denied Entry to ICE Facility in Burlington, Massachusetts

“Today, Kristi Noem’s Department of Homeland Security decided they would rather break federal law than show us what was behind the doors at ICE,” said Larson. “Members of Congress are charged with the duty to carry out oversight – including unannounced visits to ICE facilities and detention centers. As a courtesy, I let the officials in charge of the Burlington facility know yesterday that I was planning to visit. They not only denied me entry but also refused to acknowledge that their office has become a detention facility, despite documented reporting of detainees sleeping on concrete floors with no access to showers. We cannot turn a blind eye to the abuses the Trump Administration is allowing in New England, Minneapolis, and across the country – tear gassing kids, snatching mothers from their children, and executing American citizens on our streets. Kristi Noem needs to be impeached and removed from office for her flagrant obstruction and violations of the public trust, and ICE needs to be torn down and replaced. Congress cannot vote to authorize one more penny to this rogue and unaccountable agency that has become Donald Trump’s secret police force.” 

Federal agents cited U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s policy requiring seven-day notice before Members of Congress can conduct oversight visits, in violation of section 527(a) of Public Law 118-47, which allow Members of Congress to conduct unauthorized oversight visits to ICE facilities and detention centers. Following his visit to the detention facility, Larson met with peaceful protesters demonstrating outside.