A trio of Democrat lawmakers walked into a federal building in Minnesota on Saturday, only to be shown the door faster than a telemarketer on a bad day.

Reps. Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison, and Angie Craig arrived at the Whipple Federal Building around 9:30 a.m. local time, seeking to tour the ICE facility within, following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. They were initially granted entry after a brief delay at the gate, but roughly 30 minutes later, officials escorted them out after revoking their access.

This incident comes amid heightened tensions, with Minnesota prosecutors launching an investigation into the shooting alongside the FBI, while a new video of the confrontation, filmed by the involved agent Jonathan Ross, surfaced on Friday.

Lawmakers Enter, Then Face Quick Exit

The issue has sparked debate over transparency and oversight at federal facilities, especially those handling sensitive matters like immigration detention, as Newsmax reports.

Let’s rewind to Saturday morning: these three congresswomen claimed they had an invitation from a former acting agency director to inspect the ICE site. Half an hour inside, and they’re out on the curb—hardly the VIP treatment one might expect for elected officials.

Omar noted seeing about 20 detainees during her brief visit and learned that some were being transferred to other U.S. detention centers via flights that day. “We were informed that there are two planes taking off today, taking detainees out of this center into other detention centers within the United States,” she said, clarifying that she was told these were not deportation flights.

ICE Facility Access Sparks Oversight Questions

Now, let’s unpack that quote: if the transfers aren’t for deportation, why the secrecy and the sudden boot for lawmakers trying to do their job? It smells like bureaucratic stonewalling, the kind that fuels distrust in federal agencies already under a microscope.

Omar herself framed their visit as a duty. “We were initially invited in to do our congressional oversight and to exercise our Article I duties,” she stated.

But if oversight is so critical, why the abrupt reversal? Getting escorted out after a mere 30 minutes suggests either a miscommunication or a deliberate attempt to keep prying eyes at bay—neither of which inspires confidence in ICE’s openness.

Protests and Shooting Investigation Heat Up

Meanwhile, the backdrop to this facility flap is anything but calm. The night before the lawmakers’ visit, protesters rallied outside a hotel housing ICE agents, leading to over a dozen arrests after they refused to disperse.

Add to that the tragic shooting of Renee Good by agent Jonathan Ross earlier in the week, and you’ve got a powder keg of public frustration. Minnesota prosecutors stepping in to investigate alongside the FBI shows just how serious this has become.

That new video of the incident, released Friday and filmed by Ross himself, only pours fuel on the fire. While details remain under wraps, its very existence raises questions about what really happened—and whether federal protocols are being followed.

Transparency Needed in Federal Operations

Look, no one’s denying that securing our borders and managing detention facilities is a tough gig. But when elected officials can’t even get a proper look inside, and when a fatal shooting triggers dueling investigations, the public deserves straight answers, not slammed doors.

The progressive push for unfettered access and endless critique of ICE often ignores the real challenges of enforcement. Yet, on the flip side, shutting out lawmakers and leaving communities in the dark after a tragedy like Good’s death isn’t the way to build trust either.

Here’s the bottom line: ICE and federal officials need to balance security with accountability. If they don’t, they risk handing ammunition to critics who already paint every policy as oppressive, while alienating folks who just want to know the system works as promised.