Judge blocks Noem’s bid to curb Congress access to ICE detention facilities

A federal judge blocked Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s seven‑day advance notice rule for congressional oversight visits to ICE detention facilities, ruling the policy violated appropriations law and is unlikely to be enforceable even when funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB); in a second setback this year, the court indicated Democrats are likely to prevail, preserving Congress’s ability to access detention sites amid heightened scrutiny of immigration enforcement.