Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem isn’t having it from Democrat lawmakers who wish to further inflame rising tensions in the wake of the shooting death of far-left agitator Renee Nicole Good last Wednesday in Minneapolis. A day after the shooting, Noem quietly updated DHS’s policy, which will now require Members of Congress to submit visit requests at least one week prior to the intended visit date.
The move by Noem comes after a December decision by U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, a Joe Biden appointee, that blocked a previous DHS directive requiring a one-week notice of congressional visits to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. It’s a bit nuanced, but it looks like Noem is able to sidestep Cobb’s order by using funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
In issuing the new/old guidance, Noem stated that she disagreed with Judge Cobb’s finding, but intended to use funds derived from the OBBBA that are not subject to limitations cited by the judge in her ruling. DHS will use the OBBBA-derived funds to “ensure adequate protection for Members of Congress, congressional staff, detainees, and ICE employees alike.”
BREAKING: A day after the Minneapolis shooting, Secretary Noem quietly signed a new policy barring congressional visits to ICE facilities without a week’s advance notice.https://t.co/h3Oz9KV9cC pic.twitter.com/VGgSgtUDcb
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 11, 2026