States fight to inspect federal immigrant detention facilities

By: Shalina Chatlani

Outlets: Stateline

Published: September 17, 2026

Words: 1,464

Last Updated: 1 day, 8 hours ago

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Concerned about conditions in federal immigrant detention facilities but often barred from entering them, some Democratic-led states are fighting to enforce their own health and safety standards at the sites.

The Trump administration, citing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, argues that states don’t have the authority to regulate federal facilities.

But states counter that because the federal government has contracted with private companies to operate the sites, they have the right — and …

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