Three Democratic members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation say they were blocked from inspecting a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in the Twin Cities on Saturday, sparking new accusations of obstruction and deepening an already tense political conflict.
Representatives Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison visited the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling shortly after 9 a.m. on January 10 for what they described as an official oversight review. The building houses both ICE operations and the region’s immigration court, making it a focal point in ongoing debates about federal enforcement policies.
According to the lawmakers, they passed through security, entered the building, and briefly observed a holding area before officials abruptly told them their access had been revoked. Within minutes, the group was escorted outside and denied further entry, including requests to speak with detainees. Morrison and Craig stated that facility personnel invoked the building’s funding source as justification, claiming that under a so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” funding framework, standard congressional oversight authority did not apply.
Craig said she attempted to show agents a federal court ruling issued in December 2025 that blocked attempts by the administration to restrict congressional visits to Department of Homeland Security facilities. She alleged that agents refused to review the ruling. “I informed them they were violating federal law,” Craig said during a press briefing. “They responded that they didn’t care.”
The December ruling, issued by the U.S. The District Judge found that policies requiring formal advanced notice for congressional inspections likely violated federal statutes prohibiting agencies from using appropriated funds to prevent elected officials from accessing facilities tied to immigration detention.
The Department of Homeland Security released its own account of the encounter. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the lawmakers were joined by protesters and accused the group of seeking to confront ICE officers who were temporarily housed in the facility following unrest at downtown Minneapolis hotels. McLaughlin argued that their visit fell outside compliance rules requiring seven days’ notice for congressional tours.
The clash comes amid a volatile political environment following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Good by ICE officer Jonathan Ross on January 6. Federal officials have characterized the incident as a defensive shooting during an enforcement operation. Family members of Good and prominent Minnesota Democrats have disputed that version of events, and protests have continued near the Whipple Building throughout the week, calling for greater transparency and changes to federal enforcement practices.
During Saturday’s press conference, Omar described the ejection as an effort to “block elected representatives from fulfilling their constitutional oversight responsibilities.” She argued that the public expects accountability in how taxpayer funds are used, especially when federal agencies operate in local communities.
Craig suggested the administration’s actions were politically motivated and directly tied to the aftermath of the shooting. “This administration treats Minnesota like a campaign prop,” she said. “Earlier this week that posturing resulted in a woman’s death.”
The White House issued a sharply worded statement through spokesperson Abigail Jackson blaming Minnesota Democrats for what it described as broader failures in state governance, asserting that “Somali fraudsters” had exploited state programs while Democratic leaders “looked the other way.”
Separately, the confrontation has prompted renewed legal and investigative developments. After the FBI reversed an agreement to work jointly with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on the Good shooting case, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty and Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a state-level investigation, citing the importance of public trust and transparency.
This latest dispute adds to a growing list of conflicts between ICE and members of Congress seeking direct access to detention centers and processing facilities. In 2025, New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver faced federal charges following an altercation at an ICE facility in her home state.
As protests continue in Minneapolis and lawmakers vow to pursue answers, the standoff over access and oversight appears unlikely to subside in the immediate future.
Stay updated on the gripping case titled “Ex-Husband Arrested in Double Homicide of Ohio Dentist and Wife After 10-Day Manhunt” – read the full story in my recent blog.
