Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig say Whipple building was "completely empty" during oversight visit
Two Minnesota members of Congress returned to the building at the center of the state's immigration surge after being denied access last month.
Rep. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig visited the Whipple Federal Building at noon on Friday.
Half an hour before they arrived, Omar and Craig said Immigration and Customs Enforcement moved detainees out, placing them in certain county jails that serve as ICE detention centers.
"Every cell, every inch of it was completely empty," Omar said.
The Democratic representatives say that the emptiness extends beyond the holding cells, finding evidence that Operation Metro Surge is winding down. They say the field office director told them fewer than 500 ICE agents remain, down from 3,000.
"What we saw in there today is clearly, from the height of Operation Metro Surge, there has been a drawdown," said Craig.
Omar, Craig and Rep. Kelly Morrison attempted to tour the facility in January, but were told to leave. The Department of Homeland Security said they did not give the required seven-day notice before the visit.
"What happened today is a blatant attempt to obstruct members of Congress from doing their oversight duties," Omar said at the time.
On Friday, she said she will continue to challenge the idea that members of Congress need to give notice in order to conduct oversight visits.
Omar and Craig said they believe that with a seven-day notice, officials at Whipple were able to clean up their act. They both say that beyond the facility, they're continuing to get reports of ICE agents profiling neighbors and increasing activity in the suburbs.
The visit comes a week after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order directing the federal government to ensure detainees have easier access to counsel.
Earlier this month, court filings from an immigration attorney alleged detainees faced significant barriers to getting legal help inside Whipple. The attorney also described freezing cells and piles of trash.
Morrison was able to visit the facility earlier this month, before the judge's order. She said at the time conditions were "unacceptable."
"There were people in leg shackles, there were cold cement floors, no beds, no blankets. They did have showers but told me no one had ever taken a shower," Morrison said. "There were no medical protocols at all. They couldn't answer basic questions that I had, like how many people are currently being detained."
A man from Ecuador said ICE detained him more than a month ago in Bloomington. He says his first 48 hours in ICE custody was at the Whipple. He told WCCO that he had to sleep on the floor and was given hardly anything to eat. Once in Texas, he said the food was terrible and that the officials there are treating people terribly, calling it an experience he wouldn't wish on anyone.
Federal officials announced last week the ICE surge in Minnesota was ending, but observers say they are still seeing plenty of agents in the state. The White House Border Czar says 2,000 agents have left town so far. He wants to get back to the regular footprint of 150 agents within a week.
The Whipple building continues to draw protesters.
