Crockett Demands Transparent Legal Access for ICE Detainees at Fort Bliss

Lead Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today to guarantee timely legal representation for immigrants held at the Camp East Montana facility in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Nut Graf Citing her recent oversight visit, Crockett emphasized that detainees face constitutional risks without confidential attorney access, calling for clear policies and resource disclosures to ensure humane treatment and due process.

Key Calls to Action

• Clarify attorney visitation protocols and scheduling.
• Publish available legal resources and support services for detainees.
• Report on any barriers to confidential communications with counsel.

Details of the Letter Crockett’s letter, delivered on September 16, outlines her top concerns:

• Inconsistent attorney access procedures across ICE facilities.
• Use of surveillance and limited visitation hours impeding confidential consultations.
• Insufficient on-site support for pro bono counsel and public defenders.

Oversight Visit Findings During her September 11 inspection of Camp East Montana, Crockett observed:

• Shared spaces compromising attorney-client privilege.
• Lack of private meeting rooms for legal counsel.
• Detainees reporting delays of up to two weeks for attorney visits.

Constitutional and Humanitarian Stakes Failure to address these issues, Crockett warns, could violate detainees’ Sixth Amendment rights and impede asylum claims. She stressed that adequate legal access is central to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

Next Steps Crockett has requested a formal response within 30 days, including:

• A detailed outline of current ICE policies on legal access.
• Metrics on attorney‐detainee meeting frequencies.
• Planned improvements and timelines to resolve identified gaps.