Sen. Alex Padilla of California made an impromptu visit to San Francisco International Airport's immigration holding facility Thursday night in response to constituents' concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been using the facility more frequently in recent months at the direction of the Trump administration. Padilla said his visit to the Customs and Border Protection holding facility was part of an effort to achieve some transparency regarding increased operations by ICE agents at SFO. Padilla said he was greeted by a few uniformed Customs and Border Protection officers who ultimately toured him through the customs inspection areas. Padilla said there were less than 10 people at the immigration holding facility, but he did not know why they were there nor how long they had been there. Padilla said the holding area should not be used as a formal ICE facility. "There are certain standards that need to be met, and they're sort of makeshift, trying to comply with," Padilla said. "Not just access to restrooms and drinking water and food, but things like accommodations for folks that are being detained there to be able to communicate with their family or to communicate with their lawyer." Concerns have been raised by immigration attorneys and family members over some people being held for days. In a statement, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said the facilities at SFO offer appropriate accommodations, including access to medical services, if needed. Local "As part of the inspection process, certain travelers may require additional processing based on the circumstances of their case," the statement read. "The length and nature of that processing can vary depending on a number of factors…" There has been increased attention on SFO's immigration holding facility after two high-profile incidents this year in which ICE agents detained two different women who were traveling through the airport. NBC News reported that immigration agents in August increased the number of arrests and detentions at airports across the country. Padilla said visits like the one he made are part of a coordinated effort among some of his Democratic congressional colleagues to ensure the issue stays in the spotlight. "Because our Republican colleagues in Congress – they're the majority – refuse to hold hearings in committee, to demand more information and answers from this administration," Padilla said.