Judge blocks Trump's attempt to restrict congressional visits to ICE detention centers for the third time

"The power of the purse rests with Congress, and even a deep-pocketed agency must comply with Congress's restrictions on the permissible uses of appropriated funds."

"Congress has been clear in prohibiting the use of annually allocated funds to prevent or restrict lawmakers' access to DHS facilities for oversight purposes. The judge considered it highly likely that the administration would use restricted funds to create and implement the pre-negotiation policy."

Federal Judge Jia M. Cobb blocked a Department of Homeland Security policy requiring members of Congress to provide seven days' notice before visiting ICE detention centers. This marks the third judicial intervention against Trump administration attempts to restrict unannounced congressional inspections. Judge Cobb concluded the policy promoted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem likely violates budget restrictions imposed by Congress. She determined that Congress explicitly prohibited using annually allocated funds to prevent or restrict lawmakers' access to DHS facilities for oversight purposes. The judge rejected the Justice Department's argument that funding would come from Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill, finding the oversight language in annual appropriations laws broadly applies to all spending related to the policy.

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