Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) seems to think that being a member of the House of Representatives gives her carte blanche to crash any meeting or government facility where she decides that she needs access. As Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), her colleague in the other chamber, discovered, this is not a winning strategy. No matter how much you might whine or cry that it is your "legal right," it doesn't make it so. There are procedures to be followed and decorum to be shown, and as an elected representative, Padilla, and now Chu fail on both counts.
On June 8, Chu, along with fellow Democrat California Congress members Rep. Gil Cisneros and Rep. Derek Tran, showed up unannounced at the Adelanto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Processing Center in San Bernardino County, California. This was in the midst of the violent and destructive ICE riots in nearby Los Angeles, where President Donald Trump had to call in the National Guard to assist in quelling the unrest. As my colleague Sister Toldjah reported, that same day, Chu took to MSNBC to claim that the protests were "mostly peaceful," and that there was no reason to call up the National Guard. This, despite everyone involved: from the Los Angeles County Sheriff to ICE, being on hair trigger and high alert. So, why would one think it wise to go to a secure facility without invitation and expect to get entrance? That person is either not very bright or extremely duplicitous. I'll take "extremely duplicitous" for $1,000, Alex.
A coalition of California lawmakers and immigrant advocates were denied entry to the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Adelanto, where many immigrants detained during recent raids in Los Angeles are being held.
U.S. Rep. Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. (CA-31) traveled to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center with Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Rep. Derek Tran (CA-45) and members of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Sunday morning, according to a media release from Rep. Cisneros’ office.
“I attempted to conduct Congressional oversight at the Adelanto ICE facility…they locked the gate, ignored our calls and denied us entry,” Rep. Cisneros said. “At Trump’s direction, ICE and DHS agents are harassing our community, questioning our neighbors and disregarding the law by preventing us from conducting oversight.”
As plain as day on the ICE.gov website is the link for the Office of Congressional Relations, the ICE department that liaises with Congress to keep them informed, that allows them to wage oversight, and handles their visitation requests. Emphasis on "requests." No Congress member has any legal right to simply roll up to an ICE facility and expect entrance, as Chu did.
ICE detention locations and Field Offices are secure facilities. As such, all visitors are required to comply with identify verification and security screening requirements prior to entry. Visitors attempting to circumvent entry requirements may be subject to arrest or other legal action. This Protocol does not create or confer any right, privilege, or benefit for any person, party or entity. United States v. Caceres, 440 U.S. 741 (1979). Failure to adhere to this policy, as well as any facility specific requirements, may result in the termination of the visitor engagement. Please communicate any questions or concerns to the ICE Office of Congressional Relations (OCR) at [email protected] prior to your visit to mitigate any misunderstandings.
Either Chu's staffer skipped that part or Chu wanted to continue her game of grandstanding. I'll take "grandstanding" for $500, Alex.
Let's talk about the Adelanto ICE facility. This particular California ICE processing center has been in Chu's crosshairs since 2015. The majority of Chu's supposed oversight has been lobbying to get the facility closed, as congressional letters from 2015 and 2023 attest. Apparently, Jeh Johnson, President Obama's DHS Secretary, and Alejandro Mayorkas, President Joe Biden's DHS Secretary, could not have cared less, because in both administrations Chu's cries fell on deaf ears.
Sounds familiar.
On Thursday, Chu and four other Congressional Democrats (Rep. Linda Sánchez, Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and Rep. Luz Rivas) were able to gain entrance to the Adelanto ICE facility. No doubt because a staffer finally followed proper protocol. Chu immediately posted her 15 minutes to X to outline the serious conditions she uncovered in her "oversight."
These poor, put-upon illegals have to clean their own shower? Oh, the horror! Not to be outdone, on Wednesday, Chu decided to fly to the rescue of seven people who were reportedly apprehended by ICE agents at a bus stop in Pasadena. Not having learned her lesson with the Adelanto debacle, Chu once again marched up to the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Downtown L.A. expecting to be welcomed with open arms.
It went as expected.
WATCH:
After being denied by the staffer (and probably the ICE supervisor), Chu spouted a wild tale of an ICE agent aiming their gun at a filmmaker, and conflated this experience with her tour of Adelanto.
"Pasadena residents," and a "DACA recipient." Little concern is expressed for the legal citizens of Pasadena who may have been adversely affected by the illegal influx. We know the DACA person is not a U.S. citizen, and no matter what Chu alleges, we have no idea what the legal or criminal status of the other detainees might be. This congresswoman is a known fabulist, maintains questionable ties to the Chinese Communist Party, and has had a long-established agenda to close ICE facilities, despite their role in national security. Chu's words on anything are suspect at best.
While Democrat elected officials continue to make themselves the heroes of their own staged productions, it only serves to shine the spotlight on their continued advocacy for illegal aliens and criminals while failing to protect American citizens. Any truth or answers Chu and others claim they seek will only serve to further their tortured, TDS-ridden narrative.
Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.
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