Oklahoma congressman denied access to facility housing illegal immigrant children

A Republican congressman from Oklahoma says he was denied access to a federal facility at Fort Sill that is housing hundreds of mostly teenage illegal immigrant children from Central America.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa says he was visiting the Army post on Tuesday when he approached the facility and was told by security that he was not allowed to enter.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is overseeing the children's care, and Bridenstine says an agency official told him he could schedule a visit in three weeks. Bridenstine says there is "no excuse" for denying him access to the facility.

A spokesman for HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gov. Mary Fallin and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe toured the facility two weeks ago.