Congressmen Scott Peters and Juan Vargas, both Democrats, sought to investigate reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees had been held for days underground in the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Courthouse basement in downtown San Diego. But they said the Trump administration denied them access on Monday. Peters and Vargas said their offices gave notice of their plan but were still turned away. NBC 7 reported last week on the concerns of immigration attorneys, volunteers and families of detainees, who said many taken into custody have been held in the basement of the federal building for somewhere around two to five days because the Otay Mesa Detention Center is at capacity. They contend the basement is not equipped for holding people for that length of time, without real beds or showers. Relevant content: The people held in the basement also do not show up in ICE’s online detainee locator, which families said has caused them great fear. “We’ve had heard that people are being held in these places often longer than they should be,” Ruth Mendez, a volunteer with San Diego immigrant and refugee advocacy group Detention Resistance, said. Peters and Vargas also heard these stories. At a news conference Monday, Vargas mentioned overcrowding as one of the most common complaints. “Normally, when you go to a facility, you can ask, you know, 'How many people you have detained? What are their ages? Are they family members?' They wouldn’t give us any information whatsoever,” the congressman said. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said claims that the facility was over capacity are false. She also said all individuals held there before last Saturday's protests were transferred to a long-term detention center. Twenty-nine individuals were then returned to the facility. "ICE has worked diligently to obtain greater necessary detention space while avoiding overcrowding. Thanks to President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill and innovative partnerships like Alligator Alcatraz, Cornhusker Clink, Louisiana Lockup, and Speedway Slammer, we've significantly expanded detention space to house the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens," McLaughlin said in a statement to NBC 7. Mendez helps people or families of those who have been detained by ICE hopefully get their due process. But recently, she noticed a change. “Calling a family member or attorney is incredibly hard,” she said. “And they’re expected to not question why they’ve been detained.” Mendez told NBC 7 she has received reports of poor treatment, too. Both congressmen said they plan to go back and intend to inspect the basement of the federal courthouse. “They told us they were going to be picking up violent criminals and making our community safer. That’s not what we’ve seen. We’ve seen them take dishwashers and bus busboys and people cleaning up in retirement homes. People who make our communities better,” Peters said. As of Monday evening, ICE has not returned NBC 7’s request for comment.