Maryland lawmaker describes "horrendous" conditions inside Baltimore ICE facility, speaks out after viral overcrowding video

Maryland Representative April McClain Delaney, a Democrat who represents the state's sixth Congressional district, spoke to WJZ Investigates after touring the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office and holding facility in the George H. Fallon Federal Building in downtown Baltimore on Friday. 

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 McClain 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, McClain Delaney said she formally demanded a visit on Dec. 11, but it was "repeatedly rescheduled by ICE with no explanations given." 

She criticized the Trump administration for delaying her visit by several months and said she has congressional oversight authority to inspect the building whenever she chooses.

Conditions inside Baltimore ICE facility

McClain Delaney said she spoke to senior staff at the facility and inspected five holding rooms that she said can hold up to 226 detainees.

She called conditions "heartbreaking" and "horrendous."

"This whole detention center is really only meant to hold people for 12 hours and is being used to hold people for 24, 48, 72 hours or longer, depending on if they've asked for habeas corpus or if they have medical conditions or the transport planes are full," the congresswoman said. 

She said detainees sleep on thin mats with foil blankets placed directly on concrete floors, and she reported that some of those being detained in the facility told her they were hungry and thirsty.

McClain Delaney described one room "with probably 50 people, concrete floors, a bench around the perimeter, and a makeshift bathroom in the middle that has minimal privacy."

She told WJZ, "They're not allowed to leave that ever—the entire time—even to use the bathroom or get a shower. They do it all in there. They're given three meals. I asked about it because two or three of them were [rubbing their stomachs] and saying I'm hungry. I'm hungry. I was told that they did get three meals a day and snacks and as much water as they want, but it was hard to see. They put up a note that they just cleaned this area. It's very crowded in there."

She also spoke to local Department of Homeland Security officials about her concerns that detainees did not have access to lawyers. She said officials told her those in custody are given information with the names and contact information of nonprofit organizations that may be able to help them.

She also said her visit, which lasted roughly one hour and 15 minutes, was extended while she waited for ICE to move some of the detainees. 

"I was there for quite a long time because they would not allow me to see the transport of 54 people that I guess are now bound for California on one of the ICE planes. They said they had to put them in shackles and cuff them up and take them out, and I asked to see that, but they said no, that was not allowed."

Viral video shows overcrowding

McClain Delaney said she also asked ICE officials at the facility about a video that has gone viral, showing what appears to be overcrowding conditions there.

Several prominent Maryland Democrats, including both U.S. senators, have posted the images on social media.

CBS News has been unable to authenticate the images. 

"At first, they were a little bit coy about it, but then, they did acknowledge that it was in fact in the Baltimore facility," McClain Delaney said.

Following the viral video, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced his proposal to ban privately-owned ICE detention centers.

DHS blames flight cancellations due to severe weather

While not addressing whether the video is authentic, a DHS spokesperson told WJZ that the recent winter storm has held up the transfer of some detainees.

"Widespread flight cancellations and severe weather conditions have significantly disrupted transportation, making it nearly impossible for ICE to safely transfer detainees from processing facilities like this one in Baltimore to long-term detention facilities as scheduled," a DHS spokesperson stated.

The statement went on to stress that once conditions are better, the transfers will continue because the holding rooms are temporary.

ICE has long refuted claims of "inhumane" conditions. "The illegal aliens in our custody are provided with appropriate care, including food, blankets, water, and medical services," the statement said. 

Maryland State Senator Justin Ready, the Republican Whip representing Carroll and Frederick Counties, commented on WJZ's social media posting of McClain Delaney's comments after her tour, "What happened to Rachel Morin and Dacara Thompson is what I would call 'heartbreaking.' Detention facilities for people who have broken the law should be humane and sanitary, but they aren't going to be inviting, comfortable places."

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.