By Aki Nace, WCCO

“Rep. Betty McCollum: Trump administration inflicted ‘a reign of terror’

Rep. Betty McCollum issued a statement Thursday morning:

‘For months, the Trump administration has inflicted a reign of terror and chaos through Operation Metro Surge. The fact that the administration says that it 'yielded the results they came for' is a flashing red light warning to our entire nation. What are their results?’ said McCollum.

She said that it's ‘up to Congress and the courts to fix the mess that Trump has created,’ and said no other community in the country should experience ‘the carnage and lasting damage’ that Minnesota has faced over the last few weeks.”

By Blois Olson, morning take

“OVERSIGHT: Via Bring Me The News, DFL Rep. Kelly Morrison made another oversight visit to the Whipple Federal Building last week, this time unannounced. Fellow DFL Reps. Angie Craig and Betty McCollum accompanied her, but they were denied entry despite a recent judicial order allowing unannounced visits. VERBATIM: ‘Speaking to the media after the visit, Rep. Morrison – who is a physician – shared major concerns about the conditions facing those being held in the facility, as well as raising alarm over the lack of clear procedures to prevent an outbreak of measles. … It’s not clear why Craig and McCollum were denied entry.’

MORE: Rep. Betty McCollum released a statement questioning why the Whipple Federal Building denied entry to her and Rep. Angie Craig last week. STATEMENT: ‘As Members of Congress, it is not only our right, but our responsibility to ensure our constituents held in ICE detention facilities are being treated with the dignity and humanity they deserve. Still, we were denied entry. … This will not be the last time we show up to conduct our oversight duties.’”

By Henry Redman, Minnesota Reformer

“According to McCollum, whose district encompasses St. Paul, officials told the two members of Congress they wouldn’t be allowed to see the full facility because of a cap of 13 visitors. She added that this ignores the law prohibiting Homeland Security from barring members of Congress from conducting oversight of federal detention centers.

‘Their little rule keeping the two of us out is also against the law, and we’re going to speak up, and we’re going to speak out and do everything we can to make sure that the next time we come back, we’re in there to do our duties of oversight,’ McCollum said.”