By Alisa Reznick | KJZZ
Rep. Greg Stanton is one of the latest members of Arizona’s congressional delegation to visit the Eloy Detention Center south of Phoenix.
Stanton visited the Eloy facility on Aug. 5 and says he met with Kelly Yu — a Phoenix-area resident and business owner who’s spent more than 20 years in the U.S. She was detained earlier this year during a routine check-in with ICE, despite having no criminal history. Stanton’s visit came just two days before a similar trip by Sen. Mark Kelly, who met with Yu as well.
Stanton says he also met with 20 other people being held at the facility who signed up to speak with him and had stories similar to Yu’s.
“You know, business owners, employing people, paying taxes, supporting the community, yet here they are in detention, facing deportation,” he said.
A brief from his office detailing the visit says he put requests in to speak with two other specific people, but those requests were denied. It says he met detainees including asylum seekers, longtime U.S. residents, a green card holder, and one person who’d been there for two years.
This was Stanton’s second attempt to enter the facility — he first tried last month but was denied by ICE, despite a federal law requiring that access.
Stanton says he met with detainees including a longtime Phoenix-area resident and business owner earlier this month. It was second attempt to enter the Eloy facility — he first tried last month but was denied by ICE, which cited a new policy requiring lawmakers give seven days notice. Stanton says that goes against federal law.
“I showed them the federal law that says specifically that members of Congress do not have to give advanced notice to conduct oversight at a detention facility. Despite that, I was denied entry,” he said.
Stanton’s brief also notes ICE had 11 days to prepare for his visit.
Last month, a dozen lawmakers from the U.S. House filed suit against the Trump administration over access issues at detention facilities they said were happening across the country.