(AURN News) — A federal judge in Washington has blocked the Department of Homeland Security from requiring members of Congress to give seven days’ notice before visiting immigration detention centers, ruling the policy likely violated federal spending law.
Thirteen House Democrats sued after DHS reinstated the advance notice requirement in January.
Congress has already passed a funding rider stating that none of DHS’ annual appropriated funds may be used to prevent lawmakers from entering detention facilities for oversight. The rider specifies that prior notice is not required.
DHS argued it was using money from a separate reconciliation bill that pumps billions into immigration enforcement, but Judge Jia M. Cobb found it was highly likely that restricted annual funds were used to create and enforce the policy and said the agency cannot simply move money around after the fact to fix it.
The ruling temporarily blocks the notice requirement while the case moves forward.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @E_N_McMorris & @aurnonline.
