A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new federal policy that limited congressional members’ ability to visit immigration detention centers, siding with a group of Democratic lawmakers that included U.S. Reps. Jason Crow and Joe Neguse of Colorado. Wednesday’s ruling means that members of Co ngress can resume unannounced visits and tours of detention centers and field offices run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including ICE’s Aurora detention center. Congress had previously granted its members that authority under a prior funding bill. But immigration authorities sought to unilaterally change the practice earlier this year by requiring lawmakers to provide seven days’ notice before turning up at the facilities. Neguse, Crow and 10 other representatives filed the suit in July after they were denied access to various detention centers and field offices. They argued ICE’s policy tried to sidestep federal law. In her opinion, Washington, D.C.-based U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb wrote that the lawmakers were likely to successfully argue that the new policy requiring seven days’ notice was “contrary to law and in excess of (the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s) statutory authority.” That department oversees ICE. “The rule of law will prevail,” Neguse, of Lafayette, wrote on the social media platform X after Cobb’s ruling was posted. Related Articles Detained immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra must get bail hearing before Christmas, judge rules How JBS used TikTok to lure Haitian refugees to work at its Colorado meat-processing plant Rural health providers could be collateral damage from $100K Trump visa fee Denver council rejects city contract with Key Lime Air over role in ICE detainee flights Kids left without representation in Colorado immigration court after federal funding cuts In a separate post, Crow, of Aurora, wrote: “A court just ruled in our favor — stopping them from blocking our oversight efforts. I will continue fighting to hold Trump accountable.” The ruling temporarily blocks ICE’s new policy while the rest of the lawsuit plays out. Cobb’s opinion also applies to field offices, which are not strictly detention centers but are often used to temporarily house ICE arrestees. A Colorado family arrested in Durango in October was kept in a local ICE field office overnight, for instance. In a joint statement Wednesday, the 12 Democrats behind the lawsuit called the ruling “a critical victory.” “It reinforces the rule of law and reminds the administration that oversight is not optional,” they said. “Real-time, on-the-ground visits to immigration detention facilities help prevent abuses and ensure transparency. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress — and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly.” Together with Colorado’s other Democratic members of Congress, Crow and Neguse conducted a scheduled tour of the Aurora detention center in August. After the inspection, the lawmakers accused ICE of cleaning up the facility in anticipation of their arrival. Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot. ...read more read less