For two months, several Democratic congressmen have been unable to access the downtown Los Angeles machining center run by U.S. immigration and customs enforcement, prompting widespread complaints and federal lawsuits.
On Monday, members of Congress viewed the basement facility known as B-18 for the first time.
But Rep. Brad Sherman, Judy Chu and Jimmy Gomez said they had more questions than answers and accused the government of disinfecting the center.
“They saw nothing,” Gomez said, whose area includes downtown Los Angeles, “nothing, like no one is there. It was intentional, so members of Congress couldn’t monitor it.”
Since early June, masked and heavily armed agents have brought dozens of immigrants and some U.S. citizens to B-18 from Home Depot parking lots, car washes and other locations. Some detainees complained about being overcrowded and were detained for several days.
Members said at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles after their visit that the facility can accommodate up to 335 immigrants, but there were only two in a holding room on Monday.
The previously scheduled access of the group was cancelled by the ICE. According to politicians, Monday’s visit took several days of planning and advance notice.
They describe the sparse scene inside the B-18, with nine holding rooms, each with two toilets.
Chu’s area includes Monterey Park, which he described the floor as concrete and said there were no beds. She said the detainees were supposed to be held at the facility for only 72 hours, but she heard stories of people staying there for 12 days.
She said some detainees reported having a meal a day. On Monday, she visited the B-18’s pantry, which Chu described as “very rare.”
Chu said: “I’m very upset about what I see and hear.”
Chu also said she was told the detainee did not have soap or toothbrush.
Representatives of the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding politician complaints.
“It’s shocking that it took a long time for MPs to access the site,” said Sergio Perez, executive director of the Center for Human Rights and Constitution, which aims to protect immigration rights.
Perez was able to visit Mexican national Narciso Barranco, whose three sons are the U.S. Marine Corps in June. Perez said he saw Balanco after being held in the facility for three days. Perez said Balanco was punched and peppered during his arrest and he was not given medical care.
The Department of Homeland Security shared videos of his arrest on social media and said Barranco used his gardening tools to attack an agent.
Perez said Balanco told Perez that there were 30 to 70 people in each room at that time and some rooms had to sleep. There was very little food and they didn’t have a shower.
Perez said the ice facility was designed as a processing center, not a detention center.
Sherman, who represents parts of the San Fernando Valley and Palisade in the Pacific, said one of the two detainees of B-18 leaned against the table on Monday.
Sherman said he took photos “illegal” during his visit, shouting at several people who were taken to the facility, asking if they were U.S. citizens or green card holders. He said no one answered.
Sherman, Chu, Gomez and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) joined the group after their visit, criticizing ongoing immigration enforcement, especially masked, roaming agents.
A federal judge last month temporarily banned the government from mass sweeps in Los Angeles and seven nearby counties without first establishing reasonable suspicion that the target is illegal.
The American Civil Liberties Union in Southern California scanned the federal government, calling B-18 a “dungeon-like” and accused the administration of failing to “provide essentials such as food, water, adequate sanitation and medical services.” Detainees are allegedly affected by overcrowding and do not have enough sleep and accommodation.
“In this case, some of the arrested persons were forced to accept voluntary departures,” the lawsuit said.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, said the claim that the Ice Detention Center is poor is “false” and that the agency “has a higher standard of detention than most U.S. prisons with actual citizens.”
Chu said on Monday that she asked ICE representatives on the tour why people jumped out of the van with masks without identification.
She said the deputies replied, “That’s not us, if there is a warrant, we will join.”
Gomez, who has been denied access to the B-18 facility several times since the crackdown began earlier this year, was part of a group of Democratic House members who sued the federal government for lack of access.
The lawsuit was filed in Washington federal district court last month, saying the people tried to visit the detention center, whether in person or in advance notice to Department of Homeland Security officials and were illegally blocked.
ICE recently released new guidelines for members of Congress and their staff, requiring lawmakers to issue at least 72 hours of notice and require at least 24 hours of notice before monitoring visits.
Andrea Castillo, an era worker, contributed to the report.
