Rep. Jeff Denham Jeffrey (Jeff) John DenhamBottom line Bottom line Lobbying world MORE (R-Calif.) was denied entry Monday to a facility holding migrant children after earlier being told he would be able to tour the location.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Denham had been in touch with the White House and Department of Homeland Security to try and enter the facility, which is run by a nonprofit organization contracted by the government.

Denham was reportedly told late last week he would be able to enter the building, but was denied access when he visited on Monday.

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Denham said the facility, located in Pleasant Hill, Calif., is holding roughly 25 children ages 13 and under.





"We knew cameras most likely wouldn't be allowed in, but if they wanted to show the conditions, and what a lovely facility they run, then why wouldn't they want people to come in and report on it?" Denham told The Sacramento Bee.

Denham faces a difficult reelection bid this year in a district that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE won by 3 percentage points in 2016. He has been among the more vocal Republican in pushing for immigration reform in recent months.

Denham helped start a discharge petition earlier this year in an effort to force a vote in the House on a series of immigration bills without approval from GOP leadership.

The petition was on track to garner enough support to force a vote, but it was abandoned after Republican leaders agreed to hold a vote on two immigration bills, both of which failed on the House floor.