Representative Summer Lee was denied access Monday to a Pennsylvania ICE detention center.
The Congresswoman wanted to look into the death of a detainee.
Congresswoman Lee says she waited in the parking lot of the former prison in Clearfield County for an hour before she was denied access.
“They came out with a weak letter, basically full of lies, and when we asked them if they knew and recognized that it was unconstitutional for them to deny us access,” said Lee. “But, we know why don’t want to let us in, they don’t want us to see these facilities, see the conditions that folks are living in.”
Lee, who sits on the House Oversight Committee, says Congress has a role in ensuring safe and humane conditions inside the facility.
A Trump administration policy requires lawmakers to submit a notice of intent to visit a DHS facility seven calendar days in advance.