U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) accused a delegation of House Democrats of disrupting operations during an oversight visit to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, on Tuesday. The group, led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), included Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), who were conducting a review of the facility.
The agency stated that the five-lawmaker delegation arrived one hour before their scheduled 90-minute tour and were granted time beyond their original window. According to ICE, the group "indicated resistance" when asked to leave the facility by center officials. The agency reported that the group eventually moved to a neighboring Department of Justice facility, where they requested to observe a hearing in an immigration courtroom until approximately 3:45 p.m.
Rep. Jayapal, who posted a video from the facility on the social platform X, characterized the conditions at the center as "heartbreaking." She cited reports of medical malpractice, lack of clean water, and inadequate food, and noted that the facility holds over 1,900 people. Jayapal highlighted specific cases of long-term detention, including one individual held for 15 months and others for at least two years. The private operator of the facility is CoreCivic.
For those held within the facility, the outcome of these oversight visits can influence day-to-day conditions regarding medical care and nutrition. Rep. Jayapal cited reports of medical abuses and malpractice, similar to findings by a court-appointed monitor at a different facility in California. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has previously denied similar claims of withheld medical care at other sites. A person detained at Stewart or their family would notice the impact of these visits if they lead to changes in facility management or the duration of their detention, which Jayapal noted can exceed two years for some individuals.
The incident sets a precedent for how ICE manages congressional access amid claims of operational disruption. The agency indicated this was not the first time such a disruption occurred but maintained it would continue providing access to help the public understand its personnel and operations. Rep. Jayapal stated she intends to pursue changes to current immigration enforcement policies if Democrats gain control of the House in the 2026 midterms, specifically seeking the chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee. Further developments regarding facility conditions remain subject to ongoing congressional oversight and potential administrative responses from the Department of Homeland Security.