“Deeply Disturbing”: Democrats probe ICE over alleged detention ‘loophole’ abuses

Democratic members of Congress from across the country gathered in Orlando on Monday to announce an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE. “What we heard today across the State of Florida is deeply disturbing,” said U.S. Representative Maxwell Frost of Orlando. The members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability are specifically concerned about something called an ‘ICE detainer.’ That’s when suspects are held in local jails until ICE agents can pick them up.  If ICE agents do not arrive to pick up the suspect within 48 to 72 hours, the suspect must be released from custody.  Frost said ICE has found a loophole. “When that clock would run out, ICE would pick up the person, put them in a van, either just drive around for hours or sit them in a parking lot and then bring them back and rebook them,” Frost said at a press conference at his district office in downtown Orlando.