Maryland congressional members find empty Baltimore ICE holding rooms during unannounced visit
A group of Maryland lawmakers made an unannounced visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Baltimore Monday to conduct oversight of conditions and press for answers on several issues.
Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with Reps. Kweisi Mfume, Glenn Ivey and Johnny Olszewski said in a news conference after the visit that no one was present in the facility.
The lawmakers said their visit came days after a federal judge's ruling changed the facility's maximum capacity, among other requirements.
Their latest visit also comes after the group's allegations of a Legionella outbreak, along with previous claims of overcrowding and "unsafe" conditions for detainees.
ICE has previously denied the allegations of inhumane conditions, saying the agency "remains committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly, safely and humanely."
Change in Baltimore ICE holding room capacity
U.S. District Court Judge Julie Rubin granted two motions filed by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the holding room operations in Baltimore.
The order orders each detainee needs to have personal space of at least 31 square feet, the holding rooms need to be cleaned at least once a day, and detainees need to have a medical screening within 12 hours of entry, among other requirements.
The lawsuit was filed last year by two women who contend their time in the Baltimore holding rooms violated their constitutional rights and were subject to inhumane conditions.
According to Van Hollen, the capacity limits posted on each holding room add up to 226, and Rubin's order dictates that ICE can hold a maximum of 55 people in its five holding rooms.
"We believe they exceeded even that at some points in time," he added.
Despite the changes outlined by the judge's decision, the lawmakers still shared concerns about the conditions of the facility, at some point comparing the holding rooms to the cells in animal shelters.
"I am disgusted by what I just saw," said Rep. Ivey. "I have been in jails as a prosecutor, as a defense lawyer... I've never seen anything like that."
"Concrete floors, concrete benches, one toilet," Ivey continued. "It's shocking. It's un-American. It's illegal."
WJZ has reached out to ICE for comment.
Alleged Legionella outbreak
Last week, Maryland leaders sent a letter to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to raise concerns about an alleged outbreak of Legionella bacteria at the George H. Fallon Federal Building downtown.
The lawmakers claimed that the presence of Legionella was discovered in November 2025, and that the bacteria was still present in the water system.
In the letter, the lawmakers called for the GSA to take immediate action to address the alleged outbreak.
"The presence of these bacteria, and the lack of clear direction from GSA, poses a serious health and safety threat for all users of the Fallon Building."
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for ICE said detainees are given bottled water.
"ICE remains committed to always upholding the safety and well-being of all detainees in custody," the agency said in a statement.
Concerns about ICE facility conditions
The lawmakers have visited and toured the Baltimore ICE facility several times in the past year, raising concerns about conditions in holding rooms and overcrowding.
In February, the group of lawmakers wrote to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), calling conditions at the facility "disturbing." It came after a video shared on social media showed dozens of detainees in a small holding room.
DHS said the video was taken after a winter storm delayed the transfer of some detainees.
"These conditions are part of a pattern of disturbing reports of prolonged detainment, overcrowding, and inhumane conditions at ICE's Baltimore Field Office," the lawmakers wrote.
On several occasions, the lawmakers said they sent questions to ICE and DHS about operations and holding room conditions at the Baltimore facility, but said they did not receive answers.
Call to action
On Monday, Maryland's Congressional Delegation, as well as state and city leaders, called on Marylanders to keep challenging ICE.
Several mentioned the growing presence ICE seems to have in Baltimore and across the state, also pointing to the development of a proposed immigration detention center near Hagerstown.
"They just won't seem to admit it, but we're getting ready to deal with the surge and we are admitting it. We cannot undergo what other cities have gone through," said Mfume. "We gotta continue to fight back, push back, stand up, speak out, and resist."
The Maryland General Assembly has already passed emergency anti-ICE bills, with others making their way through the process.
State Senate President Bill Ferguson said to expect more.
"In the next 20 days, [we intend to pass legislation] that will set out standards and the ability for local government to have the authority to inspect facilities within their jurisdiction," Ferguson said. "Folks may say, well that's a federal facility, what I would say is the 10th Amendment is clear."
Baltimore City leaders have also taken action, most recently in the form of an executive order by Mayor Brandon Scott. Part of that order includes restricting ICE's use of city property unless there's a judicial warrant.
Baltimore City Council looks to codify elements of that with the Safe Spaces in Community Act. But Council President Zeke Cohen also said a bill to ban private detention centers in the city will be introduced Monday.
This is similar to moves made by county councils in Howard and Baltimore counties.
"We are a welcoming city. BPD will not participate [with federal immigration enforcement]...every single agency will have a plan for addressing when ICE wants to come into our buildings. They cannot come into our buildings without a judicial warrant. It is a clear mandate," said councilwoman Odette Ramos.
