SAN DIEGO — Tensions over intensified immigration enforcement and a lack of institutional oversight came into focus this Wednesday, as four members of Congress accessed the basement of the federal building at 880 Front Street for the first time, where ICE detains individuals for extended periods.
Representatives Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Mike Levin, and Sara Jacobs gained entry after more than a month of unsuccessful attempts, prompted by reports from families and volunteers to local media that some detainees were held “for days” in minimal conditions.
Lawmakers’ Statements
Vargas highlighted the difficulty of exercising oversight in the face of ICE resistance:
“For over a month, ICE did everything in their power to try to stop us from conducting oversight at the federal courthouse in San Diego after reports that detainees were being held in terrible conditions. Today, we finally got in. Oversight matters. We’re not going to stop showing up, demanding answers, and working to protect our communities.”
Levin emphasized the system’s shortcomings and the gap between the information provided and detainees’ actual experiences:
“Our immigration system is broken when you meet a man like the one we encountered. We had to request to speak with him, and they allowed it; he told us he was arrested while trying to work and build a better life for his 11- and 5-year-old children. On the way out, I asked an official why we weren’t shown this two or three weeks ago. Clearly, either they received poor advice in DC to keep us away, or there were many more people detained than there were today. Only three people were down there, and we were allowed to speak with one. They also told us that, on average, people are held six and a quarter hours, but we will require this in writing because it contradicts what has been reported to media and activist communities.”
Arrests During Residency Interviews
In recent weeks, some detainees were arrested while attending interviews for permanent residency, a practice lawmakers called “atrocious.” Mabely, the wife of one detainee, reported to NBC 7 that her husband was held 19 hours in the basement, 11 without access to water, before being transferred to the Otay Mesa Detention Center. She said the conditions were worse than those he experienced entering the U.S. through Texas.
DHS Official Figures
While lawmakers cite opacity and obstacles to oversight, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and USCIS report official figures in a press release that show another aspect of immigration enforcement:
- Nearly 2,000 detentions inside USCIS facilities of individuals with active orders or without legal status.
- More than 3,200 cases referred to ICE for criminal records, security alerts, or deportation orders.
- Over 13,200 cases referred to ICE for suspected fraud, gang connections, or other security concerns.
These actions are presented as part of a broader restructuring of the immigration system to reinforce screening and “return to reasonable levels of legal immigration,” according to the release. USCIS also implemented social media reviews, an expanded civics exam, over 172,000 Notices to Appear issued since February, and changes to work permits requiring additional review.
Persistent Questions and Concerns
The contrast between the official narrative and lawmakers’ observations in San Diego underscores a lack of clarity in ICE operations: arrests during routine appointments, resistance to oversight, and questionable conditions in spaces not designed for prolonged custody. Congress members said they will continue demanding written, verifiable information to ensure that no legal or human rights violations occur in the county.