ICE facility all but empty upon inspection

U.S. lawmakers accuse agency of sanitizing site that had been the focus of complaints.

- DAKOTA SMITH

For two months, several Democratic members of Congress have been unable to enter a downtown L.A. processing center run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prompting widespread complaints and a federal lawsuit.

On Monday, the Congress members got their first look at the basement facility known as B-18.

But Reps. Brad Sherman, Judy Chu and Jimmy Gomez said that they were left with more questions than answers — and accused the government of sanitizing the center.

"They wanted to show us nothing," said Gomez, whose district includes downtown L.A. "It was nothing, it was like no one was there. It was deliberate so members of Congress cannot conduct oversight."

Scores of migrants, as well as some U.S. citizens, have been taken from Home Depot parking lots, car washes and other locations by masked and heavily armed agents and brought to B-18 since early June. Some detainees have complained of overcrowding and being held for multiple days.

The facility can hold up to 335 migrants, but there were just two people in one of the holding rooms Monday, the members said at a news conference in downtown L.A. after their visit.

The group's previously scheduled visit was canceled by ICE. Monday's visit took days of planning and advance notice, according to the politicians.

They described a sparse scene inside B-18, with nine holding rooms, each with two toilets.

Chu, whose district includes Monterey Park, described the floors as concrete and said that there were no beds. She said ICE detainees are supposed to be held at the facility for only 72 hours, but she has heard stories of people kept there for 12 days.