August 17, 2026
Mr. Deluzio (for himself, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, and Ms. Scanlon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from preventing Members of Congress, or employees accompanying a Member, from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Oversight Access Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on restricting access of Members of Congress to immigration detention facilities
(a) In general
The Secretary of Homeland Security may not—
(1)
prevent a Member of Congress, or an employee of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate accompanying such Member, from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens;
(2)
require prior notice from a Member of Congress or an employee described in paragraph (1) of the intent to enter such a facility for the purpose of conducting oversight; or
(3)
make any temporary modification at any such facility that in any way alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress or such employee, compared to what would be observed in the absence of such modification.
(b) Report
The Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security shall report to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate within 30 days if the Inspector General determines that the Secretary of Homeland Security materially failed to comply with the requirements of this section.