Rep. Jason Crow claims he was illegally denied entry to Aurora ICE facility during oversight visit
AURORA, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado Rep. Jason Crow (D) says that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) denied him entry to Aurora's detention facility over the weekend during an unannounced visit – a move he claims violates federal law.
According to a statement released by Crow on Sunday, his office regularly visits the facility and publishes public reports on the conditions they see – but in a visit this weekend, Crow was denied entry.
“Today I attempted to visit the federal detention facility in Aurora in order to conduct critical oversight as a Member of Congress,” Crow said in a statement. “I was unlawfully denied access by ICE and the Trump administration.”
His office claims that the denial violates a federal law that grants congressmembers the right to provide oversight of federal detention facilities.
"Providing oversight is critical to my job in Congress. The law is clear that Members of Congress have the legal right to conduct unannounced oversight of federal detention facilities," Crow said in a statement. "Since President Trump was elected, this administration has tried to intimidate Members of Congress from doing their jobs. I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight."
Crow's office says he was also denied access to the facility back in 2019, when he made an unannounced visit following reports of a disease outbreak in the complex.
Crow, who represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Aurora and parts of the Denver metro area, has made regular visits to the facility since being elected to Congress.
The facility, which is privately owned by GEO Group, is the only ICE detention center in the state. It has been the subject of multiple allegations surrounding the mistreatment of inmates in the past, with cases sometimes resulting in death.
KRDO13 reached out to ICE for comment and clarification, but has not yet heard back at the time of publication.
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