Press Releases

Today, April 7, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson sent a Letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, requesting Congressional oversight of the Krome Detention Facility and a Congressional visit to the facility.

In 2019, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson led a Congressional Delegation visit to the Krome Detention Facility.

For the full letter, click here.

Letter Text:

Dear Secretary Noem:

I write to urgently request your assistance in arranging an official visit to the Krome Detention Center located in Miami, Florida so that I can assess the detainees’ living conditions. Recent reports from the Miami Herald, specifically the article titled "Hundreds protest outside Miami-Dade’s Krome Detention Center over ‘inhumane’ conditions," underscore the critical issues regarding the treatment and living conditions faced by detainees.

I have heard directly from immigration lawyers about the unacceptable conditions at Krome, including reports of individuals sleeping on the concrete floor, detainees being deprived of adequate food, and female detainees being held in a facility designated for men. These alarming accounts illustrate the urgent need for me to exercise my duty of congressional oversight and intervention. As an elected representative, I have a fundamental duty to exercise my oversight authority under Article 1 of the Constitution. This authority allows Congress to access federal facilities to verify compliance with federal laws and policies. As you are likely aware, the Supreme Court has determined the Congressional oversight power to be far-reaching. For example, in Watkins v. United States, the Court said the "power of the Congress to conduct investigations is inherent in the legislative process. That power is broad. It encompasses inquiries concerning the administration of existing laws as well as proposed or possibly needed statutes."

It is imperative that Congress gains firsthand insight into the facility's operations to address these serious concerns and ensure that the rights and dignity of individuals in detention are upheld. I fully support lawful detention and the enforcement of the law; however, this is balanced by the need to ensure that people who are in government custody are not treated inhumanely, no matter the circumstance.

To confirm the arrangements for our visit, I request your assistance with the following:

·      Please identify which date you will facilitate my visit from these dates: April 11 to 21 or April 25 to 28, 2025?

·      What steps will be taken to ensure that this visit receives complete transparency?

I appreciate your prompt attention to this urgent request and hope to facilitate this visit as soon as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us ensure the transparency and accountability of our immigration system.

Sincerely,

Frederica S. Wilson

Member of Congress

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