Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) shared a video on social media of her visit to a detention facility, but her bravado was quickly debunked by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which exposed Fernández for failing to follow basic rules.
Fernández shared, “We’re here to conduct congressional oversight. It’s our constitutional and legal duty to make sure that what they are doing in there doesn’t violate the law. We have heard credible reports of violations of basic sanitation, treatment, how you care for the people inside there.”
“I’m concerned because Trump’s immigration policy is about corruption, cruelty, and it’s a lack of priorities. I’m going to go ask some tough questions.”
“They want to hide.”
“They don’t want me to go in.”
“They don’t want me to speak to immigrants.”
“We’re going to go in and do our job to bring it to life, what’s happening inside there.”
I’m at the Torrance County ICE Detention Facility seeing for myself exactly what is happening inside. I’ll keep you posted on what I find. pic.twitter.com/kNLODsCuQj
— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (@RepTeresaLF) August 19, 2026
ICE responded, “We were glad to host you, Congresswoman. For those curious, here’s what happened:”
“Prior to the visit, the Congresswoman signed ICE’s Facility Visitation Agreement form, indicating she would abide by all processes and policies governing personal conduct at ICE facilities.”
“One of these policies is that meetings with detainees must be scheduled in advance, both for the privacy of detainees and the safety of visitors.”
“Field leadership welcomed the Congresswoman and led a comprehensive tour tailored to the specific areas she had requested to see, including visitor check-in, intake, kitchen/food preparation and medical services.”
“During a tour of the kitchen area, the Congresswoman asked to speak with certain detainees in the area and was reminded that without prior consent from detainees, her request could not be accommodated at that time.”
“Instead of accepting this guidance, the Congresswoman began talking and shouting to them from a distance, telling the detainees who she was and attempting to get closer to them. This disrupted operations and required intervention by facility leadership.”
“ICE maintains clear policies about acceptable conduct within its facilities, just like all other federal law enforcement agencies do. Those policies are made clear ahead of time to congressional visitors.”
“Despite some members’ failures to abide by those policies, ICE continues to go above and beyond to keep the American people informed about our mission, operations and people.”
We were glad to host you, Congresswoman. For those curious, here’s what happened:
Prior to the visit, the Congresswoman signed ICE’s Facility Visitation Agreement form, indicating she would abide by all processes and policies governing personal conduct at ICE facilities. One of…
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) August 21, 2026
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