Federal Judge Lets DHS 7‑Day ICE Visit Rule Stand for Now, Tells Lawmakers to File New Challenge
A federal judge refused to block DHS’s new rule requiring seven days’ notice for congressional visits to ICE facilities, saying the plaintiffs used the wrong procedural vehicle and suggesting lawmakers file a new challenge. The ruling leaves in place an incident in which Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota colleagues were asked to leave the Whipple Building ICE facility on Jan. 10, and advocates such as Democracy Forward say they will pursue further legal options to contest what they call an effort to evade congressional oversight.
📌 Key Facts
- A federal judge declined to block DHS's new 7‑day rule restricting congressional visits to ICE facilities, leaving the rule in place for now and directing lawmakers to file a new legal challenge.
- Judge Cobb explicitly said she was not finding the new policy lawful; she concluded the plaintiffs had used the wrong procedural vehicle to challenge it rather than ruling on the policy's legality.
- Fox News reports that on Jan. 10 Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota congressional colleagues were physically asked to leave the Whipple Building ICE facility after being informed of the new rule.
- Democracy Forward’s spokeswoman vowed to “use every legal tool” to challenge what the group called an effort to “hide from congressional oversight.”
- These details were reported by Fox News on Jan. 20, 2026, in an article titled "Federal judge refuses to block ICE restrictions on congressional visits."
📊 Relevant Data
Minnesota has resettled more than 26,000 Somali refugees since 1993, contributing to it having the largest Somali population in the United States, driven by U.S. refugee resettlement policies following the Somali civil war in the early 1990s.
How did MN get the nation's largest Somali population? — Star Tribune
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in annual income and contribute approximately $67 million in state and local taxes, reflecting their economic impact in Minnesota.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother, was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, with the incident occurring outside of a detention context.
Woman fatally shot by ICE officer remembered as 'one of the kindest' — NBC News
In Minnesota, the Hmong population, resettled largely through U.S. policies post-Vietnam War, numbers over 80,000 as of recent estimates, contributing to demographic diversity and economic sectors like manufacturing and healthcare.
Hmong, Karen, Latino, Liberian, and Somali Communities in the Twin Cities: Populations at a Glance — Wilder Research
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Fox piece emphasizes Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesota colleagues were physically asked to leave the Whipple Building ICE facility on Jan. 10 after being told of the new rule.
- It reiterates and quotes directly from Cobb’s order that she is not finding the new policy lawful, only that plaintiffs used the wrong procedural vehicle.
- It notes Democracy Forward’s spokeswoman vowing to "use every legal tool" against what they call an effort to "hide from congressional oversight."