Rep. Ansari Makes Surprise Oversight Visit to Phoenix ICE Facility

U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Phoenix, made an unannounced oversight visit on September 9 to the temporary hold facility at the Phoenix ICE District Office, citing Arizona Mirror reporting that detainees were being held longer and in larger numbers than in previous years — her 13th oversight visit to ICE detention and hold facilities. Phoenix Fire Department records show responders were called to the facility 11 times between December 2025 and March 2026, almost all resulting in a detainee being rushed to a hospital. Ansari said ICE officials told her that a waiver removing the 12-hour holding cell limit, vacated in federal court in June, was “lifted” in July, and that the agency is committed to not holding detainees longer than 12 hours. She was unable to speak with detainees because of a new ICE policy requiring prior agency approval, and ICE called the Mirror’s reporting on its own data “FALSE.”