ICE Restricts Congress After Deadly Shooting

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has again moved to limit congressional visits to its detention facilities. The action comes weeks after a shooting outside a Minnesota center. The agency's new guidelines were issued by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. They are almost the same as a previous policy. A federal judge blocked that policy last month. The earlier restrictions were introduced after a man was killed outside a Minnesota facility. He was protesting the detention of immigrants there. The rules require lawmakers to give two weeks' notice for a visit. They also must be accompanied by agency staff. ICE says this is for security and to avoid disrupting operations. Critics argue the rules violate the U.S. Constitution. They say Congress has the right to oversee federal operations without such limits. The judge's order last month called the first version of the policy "likely unlawful." ICE has now issued a new directive with only minor changes.