Rep. Mike Levin and Colleagues Demand Answers from DHS After Reports of Individuals Detained by ICE in Federal Building in San Diego
Washington, D.C.— Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50), Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52) wrote to demand answers and transparency from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting and detaining immigrants at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in San Diego and transferring them to the facility’s basement.
In the letter, Rep. Levin and colleagues pressed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about the Department’s refusal to allow Members of Congress to conduct oversight at ICE’s detention centers, which is both the legal right and Constitutional responsibility of a federal lawmaker.
“The decision to hold individuals for multiple days in facilities that are not meant for long-term detention is completely unacceptable and must end immediately,” wrote the lawmakers. “Further, we strongly object to the lack of transparency surrounding the use of these facilities. Members of Congress and their staff have a statutory right to conduct oversight at Department of Homeland Security facilities and it is outrageous that your agency continues to deny access to this site and others throughout California. Oversight visits offer transparency and accountability, which are vital for public trust.”
Rep. Levin also demanded access to the federal building to inspect the basement area where reports say individuals are being detained.
Read the full letter here. Full text of the letter is below.
Dear Secretary Noem,
We write regarding recent reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is arresting and detaining immigrants at the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in San Diego, California, and transferring these individuals to the facility’s basement. Public reporting details that these individuals were detained during their routine immigration check-ins at the building.
The decision to hold individuals for multiple days in facilities that are not meant for long-term detention is completely unacceptable and must end immediately. Further, we strongly object to the lack of transparency surrounding the use of these facilities. Members of Congress and their staff have a statutory right to conduct oversight at Department of Homeland Security facilities and it is outrageous that your agency continues to deny access to this site and others throughout California. Oversight visits offer transparency and accountability, which are vital for public trust.
Furthermore, the arrest of immigrants who do not pose a public safety threat and who are following the proper procedures to seek relief, including attending their required check-ins and court hearings, only incites fear and discourages immigrants from following legally established processes. This undermines due process, which is core to our Constitution and founding principles.
As Members of Congress representing a vibrant border community, we see how our constituents are directly affected by these activities in San Diego County. Therefore, we demand answers to the following questions:
- Public reporting indicates that at least 44 people were detained over the span of four days at Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building beginning on October 9th. Why were these individuals detained? Were any of these individuals taken into custody and held in any area within the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building for longer than 24 hours?
- Where specifically were individuals held in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building and how many people in total were held? What was the total duration of each individual’s detainment at the federal building? How many people are currently in ICE custody at the federal building?
- What administrative or agency decision led to the use of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building to hold detainees?
- An ICE spokesperson was quoted stating that the federal building is a “well-equipped processing facility.” Does the facility meet the National Detention Standards (NDS) or the Performance Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS)?
- Please share in detail what actions ICE is taking to ensure that the standards listed above are met.
- Under what statutory authority were Congressional oversight visits rejected?
Consider this our formal notice that we plan to visit and inspect the areas of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in which detainees are being held.
Please respond to these questions by October 27, 2025.
Sincerely,
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