Community activists protest ICE outside Baltimore City federal building
Community activists line up outside Friday to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore City.
In a social media post, the Free State Coalition said it would hold a peaceful protest "against the unlawful and inhumane detainment of immigrants in Baltimore City."
The protest comes amid local frustrations with the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.
"It's unacceptable"
"People think detention is happening on the border, it's happening in that building," said Amy Gardner, a press representative with the Free State Coalition."It's unacceptable."
Gardner and Franca Muller Paz were seen together outside of the federal building Friday afternoon, but Muller Paz was on the brink of tears as she spoke and represented her students.
"Our community is terrified, and my students feel terrified," said Muller Paz, a member of the Baltimore teachers' union.
Muller Paz joined the Free State Coalition in a protest against the alleged unlawful detainment of immigrants at Baltimore's ICE field office inside the federal building downtown.
"We have a student sitting in class wondering 'if I am going to go home and my family members are going to be there. Is my mom still going to be there?'" Muller Paz said.
Immigrant communities and advocates told WJZ the conditions inside of the holding facility are inhumane.
"People are being hurt," said Sergio España, a volunteer with the Baltimore Rapid Response Center. "There are people that are currently under horrifying conditions in Baltimore."
"You're making some people sleep on the floor —men and women sleep on the floor. I heard a story that someone soiled themselves because they didn't have access to a bathroom," said Muller Paz.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also shared a statement on the issue, saying, "We strongly oppose any tactics that deny people access to basic necessities or subject them to inhumane treatment. Detaining individuals for extended periods without proper care is unacceptable, and we unequivocally rebuke such actions."
He added, "The City of Baltimore is committed to public safety and the humane treatment of all individuals, regardless of immigration status...We strongly believe in the core American value of due process and believe it should always be honored by all people, organizations and branches of government."
ICE's response
WJZ reached out to ICE to ask if detainees are receiving basic necessities, such as blankets, mattresses, showers, and medical care.
In a statement, a spokesperson for ICE said:
"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly, safely, and humanely, and ensures that holding facility operate in full compliance with federal laws, agency policies, and established standards to uphold the well-being and dignity of those in our custody. ICE Baltimore operates a holding room, not a detention facility, and therefore is not subject to the standards outlined in the 2011 Performance-Based National Detention Standards."
The spokesperson went on to say that medical staff from the ICE Health Service Corps are on-site to provide necessary medical care.
"In the event of a medical emergency, detainees are promptly transported to nearby hospitals to receive immediate and appropriate care. ICE remains dedicated to transparency and accountability in our operations," a spokesperson for ICE said.
Maryland communities push back against ICE crackdown
Immigrant communities in Maryland have reported being fearful amid President Donald Trump's push for mass deportations.
This week, the Baltimore County Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution to increase protections for immigrant students. The measure states that immigrant students have the right to access Baltimore County Public School (BCPS) programming. Some students have reported becoming fearful of attending school, preventing them from accessing education programs and services.
The resolution comes after a teacher at Overlea High School was placed on administrative leave for allegedly posting on social media that he would expose his students who attended an immigration justice rally.
In February, the immigration advocacy organization CASA expressed its support for proposed legislation that would protect immigrant communities in Maryland.
Proposed immigration-related legislation in Maryland
The proposed Maryland Data Privacy Act is a bill aimed at protecting immigrants' personal information from federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The bill, if passed, would prohibit ICE agents from accessing Marylanders' personal data held in state databases without a warrant issued by a state or federal judge.
Another proposed bill, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, would require the Maryland Attorney General to develop guidelines for immigration enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools, healthcare facilities, and places of worship.
A third bill, the Maryland Values Act - which has yet to be filed, aims to add state collaboration with ICE.
State leaders challenge federal immigration crackdown
In January, Maryland joined 11 other states in a legal challenge to President Trump's immigration initiatives, following warnings from the Department of Justice that non-compliant state officials could face investigation.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown issued guidelines to county and state law enforcement agencies clarifying that officers cannot inquire about immigration status during routine police work.
The guidelines also prohibit sharing immigration information with federal authorities without a warrant and ban contracts with private immigration detention facilities.
