Black Catholic congressman 'incarcerated' while trying to enter immigrant detention facility in Brooklyn

Members of Congress say they were detained Wednesday while attempting to visit an immigrant detention facility in Brooklyn that officials and advocacy groups have described as inhumane.

The group included one of the House of Representatives’ Black Catholics, Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, as well as U.S. Reps. Nydia Velázquez and Dan Goldman. Espaillat says the New York Democratic lawmakers were refused entry into the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Metropolitan Detention Center while being simultaneously locked into a gated area near the entrance for 20 minutes by unidentified officers.

“We have the jurisdiction and responsibility to come here and have oversight over this operation,” Espaillat said while still locked in the area.

“We were greeted by a masked agent who refused to give us his name, who refused to show his face, and who proceeded to lock the door—keeping us, in essence, incarcerated, because we cannot go in or out until we get further notice.”

The trio was ultimately allowed to leave the facility, later describing the incident as a violation of their rights under 2024 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which grants members of Congress access to facilities operated by the DHS.

Responding to Espaillat on social media Wednesday evening, the DHS appeared to give a contradictory explanation, admitting that the outdoor gates were unopenable—to prevent media access—while also claiming that the lawmakers were “free to leave.” The agency additionally stated they were required to schedule their visit a week in advance, a stipulation disputed by the legislators.

“We were denied our right to conduct oversight, in clear violation of the law. Members of Congress are entitled to make unannounced visits, especially when there are serious concerns about abuse and neglect,” said Velázquez. 

“MDC Brooklyn has a long and shameful history of inhumane conditions, and now they are holding immigrants behind closed doors with no accountability. We are not going away.”

The MDC has long been known for a number of safety issues, including inadequate medical care, lack of sanitation, violence, malnutrition, and neglect. During the recent prosecution of the Black Catholic hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, a federal judge called the facility “dangerous” and “barbaric,” and a former employee has called it “one of the most troubled, if not the most troubled facility” among federal prisons. 

Currently under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the MDC has roughly 1,254 inmates in total, some 8% of whom are immigrant detainees. Many of the latter have no criminal record and are participants in active asylum cases. Espaillat says this is a major sticking point for the CHC, which is seeking to ensure the safety of immigrants at a facility where at least seven inmates have died since 2020.

“Denying Members of Congress access to a federal detention facility is outrageous and unacceptable. I won’t tolerate this lack of transparency, especially when the lives of immigrant detainees are at stake,” said Espaillat.

“MDC Brooklyn has a well-documented record of abuse. ICE should not be allowed to expand its reach through backdoor deals with federal prisons. This contract must be terminated now.”

On Aug. 30, Espaillat and other congressional Democrats sued the Trump administration over continued restrictions on access to federal immigrant detention facilities, including MDC. The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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