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A federal judge in the United States backed the policy of the Donald Trump administration that limits congressional visits to migrant detention centers, amid rising tensions between the White House and Congress over the handling of the migration crisis.
According to the agency EFE, Judge Jia Cobb from the District of Columbia approved an order that allows the Executive to maintain the rule requiring legislators to notify seven days in advance before visiting immigration facilities.
The ruling was challenged by a group of opposition members of Congress, but the judge found that the changes introduced by the government constitute a new version of the measure, which requires filing a new specific lawsuit.
Cobb clarified that his decision does not imply that the regulation is legal or correct; rather, to challenge it, legislators will need to reformulate their arguments and procedures before the court.
The court order comes after months of clashes between lawmakers and the Trump Administration over access to the facilities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Some episodes included the rejection of scheduled visits at the San Diego border, in downtown Broadview (Illinois), and at an ICE facility in Minneapolis, where the entry of Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig was partially blocked.
The government argues that the measure aims to comply with new internal security and organization regulations, claiming that unannounced visits may pose a risk to both staff and detainees.
Currently, migrant detentions in the United States have reached record levels. According to data leaked to the CBS News network, over 73,000 individuals remain in custody, the highest number since the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in 2001.
Last year was also the deadliest in two decades for individuals in ICE custody, with over 30 deaths, a statistic that has intensified the debate about conditions in the facilities and legislative oversight of them.
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