Maryland congresswoman attempts to tour Baltimore ICE facility after video allegedly shows holding room conditions
Maryland Congresswoman April McLain Delaney attempted to visit a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Baltimore on Friday, but failed to get a tour as ICE was transferring detainees.
Her effort to visit the facility comes after a viral video showed conditions in one of the holding rooms.
On Friday, ICE officials confirmed to McLain Delaney that the video was taken inside the George H. Fallon Federal Building. It shows dozens of people packed into what seems to be an ICE holding room.
In response to the video, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the recent winter weather delayed the transfer of some detainees and said transfers would continue once weather conditions improved.
In a statement, McLain Delaney said she formally demanded a visit on Dec. 11, but it was "repeatedly rescheduled by ICE with no explanations given."
On Friday, ICE officials invited her to return after the transfer of detainees was complete, but she declined.
She planned to demand answers about the viral video, investigate the conditions of people being held in the facility and assess their access to legal counsel during her visit Friday.
Lawmakers tour Baltimore ICE facility
In August 2025, a group of Maryland lawmakers — including Sen. Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Reps. Kweisi Mfume and Sarah Elfreth — took a guided tour of the Baltimore ICE facility after being previously denied access.
Their visit was prompted by a class-action lawsuit that criticized the conditions at the building.
ICE officials denied the allegations and said the agency is "committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly, safely and humanely," and complies with ICE policies and federal laws.
Following their tour, the group of lawmakers said they were denied the opportunity to speak with detainees.
The lawmakers said they had more questions than when they arrived and were told officials would get back to them on the nearly 20 issues that they raised.
"We just want answers, we want the truth, the facts, and we want to find a way to make sure that's public and transparent," Mfume said at the time.