U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) have introduced the Governors’ Right to Inspect Act, a bill aimed at giving state governors and public health officials the authority to conduct health and safety inspections at immigration detention facilities within their states.
The legislation responds to growing concerns over conditions in these facilities and the erosion of federal oversight. Recent investigations have revealed patterns of medical neglect, preventable deaths, and unsafe living conditions, with nearly 50 deaths in ICE custody since early 2025—the highest toll in two decades.
Governors, including New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, have been blocked by federal authorities from inspecting facilities like Delaney Hall in New Jersey, leaving them unable to verify compliance with state laws. The bill would bar the Department of Homeland Security from using funds to prevent such inspections, allowing officials to access all areas, speak privately with detainees, review health records, and document conditions with notes and photography.
DHS would be required to respond within 60 days to any inspection report submitted to Congress, detailing corrective actions. "No detention facility should operate without robust oversight," Booker stated, emphasizing the duty of governors to protect the health and safety of people within their borders.
The legislation underscores the need for transparency and accountability as the administration continues to detain individuals who pose no public safety threat.