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Rep. Jimmy Gomez inspects ICE facility in LA during unannounced visit
U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez walks out of the Roybal Federal Building on Dec. 19, 2025, after inspecting the immigration detention facility inside.
(
Jordan Rynning
/
LAist
)
Topline:
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles inspected the B-18 immigration detention center in downtown Friday unannounced and called the visit a “first step” in transparency from the Trump administration. Gomez said there were more than 100 people being held inside, many of whom looked "exhausted."
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Rep. Gomez speaks with LAist after inspecting ICE facility
What he saw: Detainees sleep on the floor in “tanks” holding up to around 40 people, Gomez told LAist after being taken through the detention center. He said there were no medical personnel on site, but some non-refrigerated medicines were available. Gomez said the facility was not over capacity, but he said it “isn’t set up to hold people for over 12 hours.” LAist has reached out to ICE for comment.
The backstory: Gomez, who represents the 34th Congressional District, was one of a dozen U.S. representatives who sued the Trump administration in federal court after being denied access to immigration detention facilities. Judge Jia M. Cobb of the D.C. District Court issued an order Wednesday allowing members of Congress to enter detention facilities for inspection without prior notice.
More on the order: Cobb wrote that Congress passed legislation every year since 2020 that requires immigration officials to allow members of Congress to enter detention facilities without notifying staff ahead of time. The judge wrote that similar legislation was most recently approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in a November appropriations bill.
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