Congresswoman Torres Leads Members in Requesting GAO Investigation into Potential Violations of Federal Law by ICE
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, joined by Congressman Jimmy Gomez, Congressman Lou Correa and Congresswoman Luz Rivas, sent a formal request to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro calling for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into potential violations of the Antideficiency Act by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The request follows an alarming incident on June 7, 2025, in which ICE officials denied Members of Congress access to the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles during an official oversight visit.
“ICE’s refusal to allow a Congressional delegation into a federal detention facility is not only unacceptable — it’s unlawful,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “Federal law is clear: ICE may not use taxpayer dollars to deny the ability of Members of Congress to conduct oversight of their facilities. Congress has a constitutional duty to conduct oversight, and ICE’s actions violate our laws.”
In her letter to the GAO, Rep. Torres raised specific concerns that ICE may have violated the Antideficiency Act (Public Law 97-258), which prevents federal agencies from spending taxpayer dollars on unauthorized and banned activities.
“Congressional oversight is not optional, and it does not yield to bureaucratic defiance,” Congresswoman Torres continued. “While Members of Congress have conducted oversight in conflict zones around the world, DHS has declared a domestic federal building in Los Angeles too dangerous for us to enter — a claim that defies logic and raises serious red flags. It’s urgent that GAO conduct a full investigation into ICE’s expenditures and activities tied to the June 7 incident.”
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