Congresswoman Luz Rivas Demands Accountability from ICE and Immigrant Detainee Transfers

August 29, 2025
Press Release

LOS ANGELES — Congresswoman Luz Rivas (CA-29) is demanding accountability from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons after she was blocked from trying to get answers at the Adelanto Detention Center about the traumatic and chaotic transfer of Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz, an 18-year-old student at Reseda High School.

 

“I immediately went to Adelanto to demand answers from ICE personnel, including why the transfer happened, what is the decision-making process, and why was his family not notified,” wrote Congresswoman Rivas. “As I attempted to conduct my oversight visit and get these answers, ICE violated the law by denying me entry to inspect and speak with the Leadership at the facility. ICE personnel failed to provide a reason why Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was transferred across state lines to a facility further from his family and legal representation. This case is similar to thousands across the country, where people are detained and transferred in the dead of night.”

 

Between August 25 and August 27, ICE transferred Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz from the Adelanto Detention Center to a detention facility in Arizona and then, while originally slated to be transferred to Louisiana, was transferred back to Adelanto. ICE’s shuffling of Benjamin over this 48-hour period, without notifying his immediate family, reaffirms Congresswoman Rivas’ previous concerns of detainees being transferred without any notification from ICE and raises questions about ICE’s decision-making process for transferring detainees.

 

Congresswoman Rivas continued: “This incident of chaotic and mismanaged detainee transfer is an accurate representation of ICE’s inability to handle the immigration detention system and the lack of humane treatment to detainees and their families. I am deeply concerned that these detainees are intentionally being transferred to other detention centers across the country to sever vital connections to their legal counsel, family, and friends. ICE is not notifying family members where their loved ones are located.”

 

A full copy of the letter can be found here and below.

 

Dear Acting Director Lyons:

 

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee transfers is a core dimension to the immigration detention system. This specific issue must be examined to ensure a humane and just system for all – including immigrants and their families. More specifically, I am demanding answers and accountability related to ICE detainee transfers across state lines without notifying the detainee’s immediate family. 

 

This week, I attempted to perform my Congressional oversight duties, as protected by law, at the Adelanto Detention Center in response to the traumatic and chaotic transfer of one of my constituents, Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz, an 18-year-old high school student at Reseda High School. On August 26, 2025 I was notified that Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was transferred from the Adelanto Detention Center in California to a facility in Arizona in the middle of the night. His family was not notified, and there was no reason why the transfer had occurred.

 

I immediately went to Adelanto to demand answers from ICE personnel, including why the transfer happened, what is the decision-making process, and why was his family not notified. As I attempted to conduct my oversight visit and get these answers, ICE violated the law by denying me entry to inspect and speak with the Leadership at the facility. The ICE personnel denied my entry and changed their reasoning from needing 24 24-hour notice to 7-day notice. ICE personnel also claimed the policy on their website superseded the law – which is absolutely unacceptable behavior and reasoning from the federal government. As you should know, the law states, in part: 

 

(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility described in subsection (a) for the purpose of conducting oversight.  

 

Additionally, ICE personnel failed to provide a reason why Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was transferred across state lines to a facility further from his family and legal representation. This case is similar to thousands across the country, where people are detained and transferred in the dead of night.

 

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, I was informed that Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was set to be transferred to a facility in Louisiana. As he was on the plane to Louisiana, I was informed that he was deboarded from the plane and returned to California at the Adelanto Detention Center. All this without notifying his family. On Thursday, August 28, 2025, I conducted a follow-up Congressional oversight visit to the Adelanto Detention Center to speak with Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz. I was once again denied entry to conduct my legally mandated oversight duties to understand the decision-making process for transferring detainees and to see Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz. ICE personnel again broke the law.

 

This incident of chaotic and mismanaged detainee transfer is an accurate representation of ICE’s inability to handle the immigration detention system and the lack of humane treatment to detainees and their families. 

 

I am deeply concerned that these detainees are intentionally being transferred to other detention centers across the country to sever vital connections to their legal counsel, family, and friends. ICE is not notifying family members where their loved ones are located.

 

As part of my oversight responsibilities, I am demanding a response within 72 hours to the following questions:

 

  1. Provide a detailed report on ICE policy and procedure for transferring detainees, including exact processes and the current notification systems in place.
  2. Provide a detailed explanation including how detainees are selected for transfer, how are the locations selected, and what are the standardized policies for informing the detainee on their transfer.
  3. What is ICE’s policy for notifying immediate family members for detainee transfers?
  4. Whis is ICE’s budget for detainee transfers? What is the cost per transfer, per detainee for taxpayers?
  5. Provide a detailed account on Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz’ transfer, including why he was transferred  from California to Arizona, then to Louisiana, and back to California within a 48-hour period?
  6. Are there current plans to transfer Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz again? If so, what is the reason for this transfer, when will this transfer occur, and when will his family be notified?
  7. What is the decision-making process and who exactly is involved for detainee transfers like Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz? Provide name(s) and title(s).

 

I will continue to demand access to ICE facilities to conduct Congressional oversight to ensure all detainees are treated humanely. It is imperative that when detainees are transferred across state lines there is proper notification to an individual’s family.

 

Sincerely,

 

Luz Rivas

Member of Congress

 

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