Latest news with #oversight
Al Arabiya
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
12 members of congress sue trump administration to ensure access to ice detention centers
A dozen Democratic members of Congress who have been blocked from making oversight visits at immigration detention centers filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration that seeks to ensure they are granted entry into the facilities even without prior notice. The lawsuit filed in the District of Columbia's federal court said the Department of Homeland Security and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement are obstructing Congressional oversight of the centers at a time when there's been an increase in ICE arrests with reports of raids across the country and people taken into custody at immigration courts. By law, members of Congress are allowed to visit ICE facilities and don't have to give any notice, but increasingly the members have been stopped at the door. ICE officials have said a new rule requires a seven-day waiting period and they prohibit entry to the ICE field offices. The lawsuit asks the court for full and immediate access to all ICE facilities. ICE Director Todd Lyons told a congressional committee in May that he recognized the right of members of Congress to visit detention facilities even unannounced. But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told a different committee that members of Congress should have requested a tour of an immigration detention facility in New Jersey where a skirmish broke out in May. As President Donald Trump's immigration agenda plays out, detention facilities have become overcrowded, and there have been reports of mistreatment, food shortages, a lack of medical care, and unsanitary conditions, the lawsuit said. Congress has a duty to make sure the administration is complying with the law while operating the facilities, the lawsuit said. The recently passed budget bill allocates 45 billion for ICE detention – more than 13 times ICE's current annual detention budget, the lawsuit said. Members of Congress must ensure those funds are spent efficiently and legally, the suit said. But recent attempts by House members to visit facilities were blocked, the lawsuit said. 'These members of Congress could have just scheduled a tour; instead, they're running to court to drive clicks and fundraising emails,' DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told the AP in an email. 'Requests for visits to detention centers should be made with sufficient time to prevent interference with the President's Article II authority to oversee executive department functions–a week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the President's constitutional authority,' she said. Also, 'ICE has seen a surge in assaults, disruptions, and obstructions to law enforcement, so any requests for tours of ICE processing centers and field offices must be approved by Secretary Noem,' McLaughlin said. When Rep. Veronica Escobar tried to visit the El Paso center on July 9, ICE told her that they could not accommodate her attendance and said it is now requiring requests to be made seven calendar days in advance, the lawsuit said. When the Democrat arrived at the center, she was denied entry. Rep. Jason Crow D-Colorado met a similar fate when he tried to visit the ICE Aurora Facility on July 20. 'ICE is holding men, women, and children in overcrowded rooms without beds, showers, or medical care – sometimes for days on end,' Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, which filed the lawsuit with Democracy Forward, said. 'ICE's stonewalling is not only illegal – it's a brazen attempt to shield abuse from scrutiny.' While ICE is demanding a week's notice for detention center visits, it said it's prohibiting members of Congress from inspecting ICE field offices where some detainees are being held. When Rep. Daniel Goldman D-New York tried to tour the ICE New York Field Office in June, he was told his oversight authority doesn't apply there because it's not a detention facility. When Goldman went to the office, the deputy director barred his entry but confirmed that people were being held overnight, sometimes for several days, but the facility did not have beds or showers. Reps. Joe Neguse D-Colorado, Bennie Thompson D-Mississippi, and Jamie Raskin D-Maryland made a similar attempt to enter the ICE Washington Field Office in Chantilly Virginia on July 21 after learning that people were being detained there. But they also were turned away without being able to view the conditions at the site. The other House members who are fighting for ICE access include: California Democratic Representatives Norma Torres, Raul Ruiz, Jimmy Gomez, Jose Luis Correa, and Robert Garcia. Also suing is Adriano Espaillat D-New York. 'No child should be sleeping on concrete and no sick person should be denied care; yet that's exactly what we keep hearing is happening inside Trump's detention centers,' Gomez said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is our message: We as Members of Congress will do our job, and we will not let these agencies operate in the shadows.'
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
12 members of Congress sue Trump administration to ensure access to ICE detention centers
A dozen Democratic members of Congress who have been blocked from making oversight visits at immigration detention centers filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration that seeks to ensure they are granted entry into the facilities, even without prior notice. The lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia's federal court, said the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are obstructing Congressional oversight of the centers at a time when there's been an increase in ICE arrests, with reports of raids across the country and people taken into custody at immigration courts. By law, members of Congress are allowed to visit ICE facilities and don't have to give any notice, but increasingly, the members have been stopped at the door. ICE officials have said a new rule requires a seven-day waiting period and they prohibit entry to the ICE field offices. The lawsuit asks the court for full and immediate access to all ICE facilities. ICE Director Todd Lyons told a congressional committee in May that he recognized the right of members of Congress to visit detention facilities, even unannounced. But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told a different committee that members of Congress should have requested a tour of an immigration detention facility in New Jersey where a skirmish broke out in May. As President Donald Trump's immigration agenda plays out, detention facilities have become overcrowded and there have been reports of mistreatment, food shortages, a lack of medical care and unsanitary conditions, the lawsuit said. Congress has a duty to make sure the administration is complying with the law while operating the facilities, the lawsuit said. The recently passed budget bill allocates $45 billion for ICE detention — more than 13 times ICE's current annual detention budget, the lawsuit said. Members of Congress must ensure those funds are spent efficiently and legally, the suit said. But recent attempts by House members to visit facilities were blocked, the lawsuit said. 'These members of Congress could have just scheduled a tour; instead, they're running to court to drive clicks and fundraising emails," DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told the AP in an email. Requests for visits to detention centers should be made 'with sufficient time to prevent interference with the President's Article II authority to oversee executive department functions—a week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the President's constitutional authority,' she said. Also, ICE has seen a surge in assaults, disruptions and obstructions to law enforcement so any requests for tours of ICE processing centers and field offices must be approved by Secretary Noem, McLaughlin said. When Rep. Veronica Escobar tried to visit the El Paso center on July 9, ICE told her that they could not accommodate her attendance and said it is 'now requiring requests to be made seven calendar days in advance,' the lawsuit said. When the Democrat arrived at the center, she was denied entry. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, met a similar fate when he tried to visit the ICE Aurora Facility on July 20. 'ICE is holding men, women, and children in overcrowded rooms without beds, showers, or medical care — sometimes for days on end," Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, which filed the lawsuit with Democracy Forward. 'ICE's stonewalling is not only illegal — it's a brazen attempt to shield abuse from scrutiny.' While ICE is demanding a week's notice for detention center visits, it said it's prohibiting members of Congress from inspecting ICE field offices, where some detainees are being held. When Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, tried to tour the ICE New York Field Office in June, he was told his oversight authority doesn't apply there, because it's not a "detention facility." When Goldman went to the office, the deputy director barred his entry, but confirmed that people were being held overnight, sometimes for several days, but the facility did not have beds or showers. Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado; Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi; and Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, made a similar attempt to enter the ICE Washington Field Office in Chantilly, Virgini,a on July 21 after learning that people were being detained there. But they also were turned away without being able to view the conditions at the site. The other House members who are fighting for ICE access include: California Democratic Representatives Norma Torres, Raul Ruiz, Jimmy Gomez, Jose Luis Correa and Robert Garcia. Also suing is Adriano Espaillat, D-New York. 'No child should be sleeping on concrete, and no sick person should be denied care, yet that's exactly what we keep hearing is happening inside Trump's detention centers," Gomez said in a statement. "This lawsuit is our message: We as Members of Congress will do our job, and we will not let these agencies operate in the shadows.'
Bloomberg
8 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Private Equity Funds in Korea Face Risks From Proposed Bills
A South Korean lawmaker in the ruling party has proposed a bill to heighten disclosure requirements for private equity funds, adding to growing calls for tighter oversight of the industry. The bill, backed by Min Byoung-dug of the Democratic Party last week, would remove some exemptions that local private equity funds enjoyed on disclosure requirements imposed on other funds open to retail investors. If enacted, the proposals would mandate buyout firms to disclose quarterly asset management reports, among others.
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
12 members of Congress sue Trump administration to ensure access to ICE detention centers
A dozen Democratic members of Congress who have been blocked from making oversight visits at immigration detention centers filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Trump administration that seeks to ensure they are granted entry into the facilities, even without prior notice. The lawsuit, filed in the District of Columbia's federal court, said the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are obstructing Congressional oversight of the centers at a time when there's been an increase in ICE arrests, with reports of raids across the country and people taken into custody at immigration courts. By law, members of Congress are allowed to visit ICE facilities and don't have to give any notice, but increasingly, the members have been stopped at the door. ICE officials have said a new rule requires a seven-day waiting period and they prohibit entry to the ICE field offices. The lawsuit asks the court for full and immediate access to all ICE facilities. ICE Director Todd Lyons told a congressional committee in May that he recognized the right of members of Congress to visit detention facilities, even unannounced. But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem told a different committee that members of Congress should have requested a tour of an immigration detention facility in New Jersey where a skirmish broke out in May. As President Donald Trump's immigration agenda plays out, detention facilities have become overcrowded and there have been reports of mistreatment, food shortages, a lack of medical care and unsanitary conditions, the lawsuit said. Congress has a duty to make sure the administration is complying with the law while operating the facilities, the lawsuit said. The recently passed budget bill allocates $45 billion for ICE detention — more than 13 times ICE's current annual detention budget, the lawsuit said. Members of Congress must ensure those funds are spent efficiently and legally, the suit said. But recent attempts by House members to visit facilities were blocked, the lawsuit said. 'These members of Congress could have just scheduled a tour; instead, they're running to court to drive clicks and fundraising emails,' DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told the AP in an email. Requests for visits to detention centers should be made 'with sufficient time to prevent interference with the President's Article II authority to oversee executive department functions—a week is sufficient to ensure no intrusion on the President's constitutional authority,' she said. Also, ICE has seen a surge in assaults, disruptions and obstructions to law enforcement so any requests for tours of ICE processing centers and field offices must be approved by Secretary Noem, McLaughlin said. When Rep. Veronica Escobar tried to visit the El Paso center on July 9, ICE told her that they could not accommodate her attendance and said it is 'now requiring requests to be made seven calendar days in advance,' the lawsuit said. When the Democrat arrived at the center, she was denied entry. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado, met a similar fate when he tried to visit the ICE Aurora Facility on July 20. 'ICE is holding men, women, and children in overcrowded rooms without beds, showers, or medical care — sometimes for days on end,' Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, which filed the lawsuit with Democracy Forward. 'ICE's stonewalling is not only illegal — it's a brazen attempt to shield abuse from scrutiny.' While ICE is demanding a week's notice for detention center visits, it said it's prohibiting members of Congress from inspecting ICE field offices, where some detainees are being held. When Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, tried to tour the ICE New York Field Office in June, he was told his oversight authority doesn't apply there, because it's not a 'detention facility.' When Goldman went to the office, the deputy director barred his entry, but confirmed that people were being held overnight, sometimes for several days, but the facility did not have beds or showers. Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado; Bennie Thompson, D-Mississippi; and Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, made a similar attempt to enter the ICE Washington Field Office in Chantilly, Virgini,a on July 21 after learning that people were being detained there. But they also were turned away without being able to view the conditions at the site. The other House members who are fighting for ICE access include: California Democratic Representatives Norma Torres, Raul Ruiz, Jimmy Gomez, Jose Luis Correa and Robert Garcia. Also suing is Adriano Espaillat, D-New York. 'No child should be sleeping on concrete, and no sick person should be denied care, yet that's exactly what we keep hearing is happening inside Trump's detention centers,' Gomez said in a statement. 'This lawsuit is our message: We as Members of Congress will do our job, and we will not let these agencies operate in the shadows.'
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Senate Democrat leader says attempt to force release of Epstein files not a ‘stunt' but effort to ‘compel transparency'
Update: Date: 2025-07-30T16:28:17.000Z Title: Chuck Schumer Content: Rarely used 'rule of five' requires government agencies to provide relevant information if at least five members of the committee request it Chris Stein (now); Shrai Popat and Joe Coughlan (earlier) Wed 30 Jul 2025 18.25 CEST First published on Wed 30 Jul 2025 12.12 CEST From 6.20pm CEST 18:20 At the Capitol, Senate minority leader is outlining his attempt to force attorney general Pam Bondi to release the files related to the investigation of disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 'We're invoking federal law and using our authority as a check on the executive to compel transparency,' Schumer said. 'Today's letter matters. It's not a stunt, it's not symbolic, it's a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law, and we expect an answer from DOJ by August the 15th. That's what accountability looks like. This is what oversight looks like, and this is what keeping your promises to the American people look like.' He noted that both Bondi and Donald Trump had previously said they want the case file's released: This is not complicated. After promising full transparency for years, every single time Trump, his administration, Republican leaders have had a chance to be transparent about the Epstein files, they've chosen to hide. The evasions, the delays, the excuses, they are not just odd, they're alarming. It begs the question, if there's nothing to hide, why all the evasiveness? Trump should stop hiding from the truth, he should stop hiding from the American people. 6.25pm CEST 18:25 Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate homeland security committee, shared more about how the letter works, and what it demands. 'We are using very unique statutory authority that is granted only to our committee, to Homeland Security and Government Affairs. The statute that we are invoking requires the administration to hand over documents … requested by any five members of the Senate Committee,' Peters said. 'This letter demands that the Justice Department produce documents that attorney general Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have publicly already confirmed they have in their possession. We all know in fact that the attorney general said, quote, she said they're sitting on her desk. It should be pretty easy to turn over documents that are sitting on the attorney general's desk.' 6.20pm CEST 18:20 At the Capitol, Senate minority leader is outlining his attempt to force attorney general Pam Bondi to release the files related to the investigation of disgraced financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 'We're invoking federal law and using our authority as a check on the executive to compel transparency,' Schumer said. 'Today's letter matters. It's not a stunt, it's not symbolic, it's a formal exercise of congressional power under federal law, and we expect an answer from DOJ by August the 15th. That's what accountability looks like. This is what oversight looks like, and this is what keeping your promises to the American people look like.' He noted that both Bondi and Donald Trump had previously said they want the case file's released: This is not complicated. After promising full transparency for years, every single time Trump, his administration, Republican leaders have had a chance to be transparent about the Epstein files, they've chosen to hide. The evasions, the delays, the excuses, they are not just odd, they're alarming. It begs the question, if there's nothing to hide, why all the evasiveness? Trump should stop hiding from the truth, he should stop hiding from the American people. 6.16pm CEST 18:16 California's Democratic governor Gavin Newsom has indicated he may push to redraw his state's congressional maps if Texas Republicans approve new maps that could net the GOP five more House seats. Writing on X after Texas Republicans released their proposal for redistricting the state's House seats, Newsom said: Donald Trump asks for 5 seats and Greg Abbott automatically bends the knee. The 2026 election is being rigged. California won't sit back and watch this happen. If California Democrats want to redraw their congressional maps in the party's favor, they will first have to ask voters to cancel a constitutional amendment that created an independent redistricting commission – potentially a tall ask. 5.57pm CEST 17:57 Top Senate Democrats will hold a press conference in a few minutes about their attempt to use a rarely-invoked law to force attorney general Pam Bondi to hand over the Epstein files. Senate minority leader is due to speak, as well as Gary Peters, the ranking member of the homeland security committee, and other Democrats on the panel. We will let you know what they have to say. 5.42pm CEST 17:42 Here's a rundown of the news so far today: We're preparing for an interest-rate decision from the Federal Reserve at 2pm, and a press conference with chair Jerome Powell 30 minutes after the announcement. It comes as Donald Trump continued to urge Powell to cut the rate on social media. Trump also announced a 25% tariff on India, writing on Truth Social that the US has done 'relatively little business' with the country. Trump also said that India would be subject to a further penalty for buying substantial amounts of Russian military equipment and energy. Senate Democrats will at noon hold a press conference after writing a letter to attorney general Pam Bondi to release the full and unredacted Epstein files. They're invoking a rare and obscure law known as 'rule of five', which states that a government agency must provide information if five or more Senate committee members request it. Beyond Washington, Texas Republicans released a proposed new congressional map for the state. This comes at the urging of Trump, and much earlier than usual. Typically, the state redraws their map every 10 years. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries is talking with Democratic legislators in Texas amid the redistricting battle ensuing in the state. He's expected to hold a press conference tomorrow as Democrats try to stave off a rewritten map that would cost them a House majority. 5.25pm CEST 17:25 Texas Republicans have released their new proposed congressional map today. It could add up to five Republican seats if passed. Donald Trump has pressured lawmakers in the state to redraw the map in order to protect the slim majority that Republicans hold in the House as the 2026 midterms loom. Currently, Republicans hold 25 of Texas's 38 congressional seats, while Democrats hold 12. Democratic strongholds like California and Maryland have threatened to redraw their maps in response. Updated at 5.36pm CEST 4.59pm CEST 16:59 Democratic Texas congressman Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, has responded to a proposed redistricting map published by Punchbowl News. He issued the following statement: Merging the 35th and the 37th districts is illegal voter suppression of Black and Latino Central Texans. By merging our Central Texas districts, Trump wants to commit yet another crime— this time, against Texas voters and against Martin Luther King's Voting Rights Act of 1965. United, we will fight back with everything we've got. Updated at 5.02pm CEST 4.34pm CEST 16:34 While Senate Democrats are on Capitol Hill and pressing for the Epstein files release, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is in Austin, Texas, for closed-door meetings with state Democrats, according to Politico. This comes as Donald Trump pushes Republican legislators in Texas to redraw their congressional district map earlier than usual. Normally, Texas would reconfigure its map every 10 years – aligned with the census. Per Politico, Jeffries will hold a press conference in Texas tomorrow, along with a number of media appearances across cable TV. Updated at 5.00pm CEST 4.10pm CEST 16:10 Later today we'll find out the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision, and we can also expect to hear from chair Jerome Powell shortly after. Earlier today, Donald Trump pushed again for the Fed to lower the interest rate on Truth Social: 'No Inflation! Let people buy, and refinance, their homes!' Updated at 4.26pm CEST 3.45pm CEST 15:45 Announcing the tariff on Truth Social today, Donaldt Trump said that 'while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them.' Trump added that India will also pay a 'penalty' for their role as a substantial buyer of Russian military equipment and energy. 'At a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE,' he wrote. Our colleagues are providing live updates here. Updated at 4.00pm CEST 3.25pm CEST 15:25 The US GDP grew at a faster rate than expected this quarter – 3%. That's higher than the 2.3% Dow Jones estimate for this April to June period. For more up-to-date news, follow our Business Live blog here. Updated at 4.00pm CEST 3.06pm CEST 15:06 Ed Pilkington Transcripts of the grand jury proceedings that led to the sex trafficking indictments of the sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, include the testimony of just two law enforcement witnesses, the Department of Justice (DoJ) has said, as it argues for the documents' release. Top DoJ officials disclosed in a filing late on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court that separate grand juries convened to consider the criminal investigations of Epstein and Maxwell, and had heard from only two witnesses. The revelation was made in the course of court wrangling over whether the transcripts of the proceedings should be unsealed, amid the continuing furor over the Epstein scandal which has roiled Donald Trump's second term. The Trump administration is urging the two federal judges who presided over the Epstein and Maxwell grand juries, Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer, to release the testimony, in an attempt to calm the uproar. The Trump administration has come under intense pressure from the president's own base of supporters who were infuriated by the DoJ's decision not to release any additional Epstein files about the late, disgraced financier's crimes involving the sex trafficking of girls. The decision jarred with the previous stance of senior administration figures, including Trump himself and the US attorney general, Pam Bondi, who had hyped the expected release of more details of the New York financier's businesses, travels and associations, including a possible list of his financial clients, which all further stoked conspiracies around the well-connected Epstein. Tuesday's submission states that the grand jury tasked with considering the criminal case against Epstein heard only from an FBI agent when it met in June and July, 2019. A similar grand jury for Maxwell heard from the same FBI agent and a New York Police Department detective when it met in June and July, 2020 and in March, 2021. The memorandum was signed by Jay Clayton, US attorney for the southern district of New York, and included the names of Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche. Epstein took his own life in a federal jail in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, officials say, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Trump. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Epstein in the sexual trafficking of minors. She was convicted in December 2021 on charges that she lured teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Last week, she sat for two sets of interviews with Justice Department officials, including Blanche, in Florida, where she is serving her time in a federal prison, and answered questions 'about 100 different people,' her attorney said. Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he had cut off their relationship long ago. But he faces ongoing questions about the Epstein case. On Tuesday Trump spoke about connections between Epstein and the president's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. He claimed he evicted the financier from the resort because Epstein 'stole' young female staffers from him, including Virginia Giuffre who went on to be a key witness against Epstein and Maxwell. Giuffre died in April. Maxwell has offered to testify before Congress but with conditions, including being granted immunity. Her lawyer has written to the House committee which has subpoenaed her saying that a deposition without immunity would be a 'non-starter'. The DoJ memorandum says unsealing the transcripts is 'consistent with increasing calls for additional disclosures in this matter.'
