Minnesota BCA

Democratic U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Betty McCollum of Minnesota said Friday that they were denied entry to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holding facility at the Whipple federal building in Minneapolis.

McCollum, of Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District, said she was told by federal officials that, because of a lawsuit, only 13 people are allowed in the facility, though she did not expand on the lawsuit she was referring to. 

McCollum added that there’s language in the last appropriations bill that was passed that allows members of Congress to “fulfill their Congressional obligation for life, health and safety, and to make sure that people are treated in humane conditions.”

CBS News has reached out to federal agencies for clarity about why members of Congress were not allowed in, but has not yet heard back.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” McCollum said. “No president has ever behaved this way, breaking the law, breaking the constitution, and having his administration just decide what they wanna do and what they don’t wanna do. Whether it’s the Defense Department or the Department of Homeland Security, it’s out of control.” 

Friday marked the second time Craig, who represents Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, was denied access to the facility. She, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, and Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, were denied entry last month.

“We are bound by our duties as members of Congress to be able to check on their health, on their safety,” Craig said.

She added that she’s received reports from her constituents that some of the people detained have “serious medical issues” and that family members aren’t able to give prescription drugs to them. 

Craig and McCollum in a joint written statement, said, “This will not be the last time we show up to conduct our oversight duties.”

Morrison calls for facility’s closure

Morrison, who was granted access to the Whipple building facility on Friday afternoon, says she saw about 40 people inside.

She says she’s worried about the spread of measles at the building and couldn’t get any information on plans to limit exposure. 

Morrison was told two people at the facility on Friday were brought from Texas, where there are reports of measles at a detention center.

“People are sleeping on concrete floors. They don’t have real blankets. They have those kind of tinfoil, temporary blankets. It’s a very, it’s a very disheartening scene and I think it’s beneath what we should expect in the United States of America,” Morrison said on Friday afternoon.

She said the facility should be shut down.

“People are very dejected. It’s horrifying to be present in that place,” Morrison said.

She added she was let in because she’s one of 13 members of Congress suing the Trump administration over policies restricting unannounced visits to ICE facilities.

Morrison made two visits to the facility before Friday.