Maryland leaders denied tour of Baltimore ICE detention facility amid allegations of "inhumane conditions"
Several Maryland leaders were denied a tour of the George H. Fallon federal building in Baltimore on Monday following allegations of inhumane conditions for detainees being held there by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The group of lawmakers included Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Reps. Glenn Ivey, Johnny Olzewski Jr., Sarah Elfreth and Kweisi Mfume.
A spokesperson for ICE said the lawmakers arrived at the facility without advanced notice and were turned away for the safety of personnel and those in custody.
"Secretary Noem has made it very clear that U.S. lawmakers are to provide advanced notice before visiting ICE detention centers and processing facilities," the agency said in a statement.
ICE has previously denied the allegations of inhumane conditions, saying it "remains committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly, safely and humanely."
The agency said it complies with federal law and agency policies, and it upholds the "well-being and dignity" of those in custody.
Lawmakers denied entry to Baltimore ICE facility
In a press conference following the visit, Mfume said that while the group was able to enter the Federal Building, they were denied a tour of the ICE detention facility by a director.
"We were not allowed entry, so we had to stand outside, bang on the door, and ultimately sit in front of the door," Mfume said. "Finally, a director came out and explained to us that she had been given direction not to allow anyone, member of the House, Senate, or anyone, into the facility."
Mfume alleged that being denied a tour contradicts a public law that gives members of the United States Congress, including the House and Senate, jurisdictional oversight of all ICE facilities. He added that he is a senior member of the oversight committee.
"This does not bode well here in Baltimore or anywhere if members of the United States Congress, who are duly authorized to come in and to inspect, visit, or walk through a federal facility, are not allowed in," Mfume said.
Mfume, who serves on the U.S. House Oversight Committee. He said he'll work with his committee to figure out how to make sure no member of Congress is barred in the future.
"I'm gonna seek as best as I can to get some sort of bipartisan consensus that the committee finds a way to prevent this sort of thing from happening anywhere around the country," Mfume said.
Mfume adds he plans to reach out to Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown about this as well.
ICE responds
A few hours after the visit, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official account on X posted that the lawmakers should've scheduled a tour at least a week before.
"Congressman, if you need a photo op with the violent criminal illegal aliens you are protecting, schedule a TOUR," the post reads, also quoting Olszewski's post about the visit.
In a statement, ICE criticized the group of state lawmakers for choosing to "support those that put our Maryland communities at risk," instead of "standing with victims and backing law enforcement."
Lawsuit alleges inhumane conditions inside Fallon building
A federal class-action lawsuit filed by the Amica Center and the National Immigration Project alleges that ICE "fails to meet basic human needs" for detainees and is violating its standards at the Baltimore facility.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Maryland women detained by ICE at the Fallon building, after a judge ruled to suspend their deportation.
Attorneys argue the two women were held in "inhumane" holding rooms for prolonged periods - one for 60 hours, and the other for 48 hours, which they allege violates ICE's policy.
ICE policy dictates detainees are only to be held for 12 hours in holding facilities.
At the last hearing for this lawsuit on July 16, lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice argued that the complaint is incorrect.
U.S. District Court Judge Julie Rubin denied two motions for the women's lawyers on Friday.
One would've allowed claims to be made by anyone who is currently, or in the future, detained in the holding cells. The other was a motion for a preliminary injunction, which would order ICE to strictly follow its holding cell policies.
Leaders, advocates raise concerns about conditions
Immigration advocacy groups and Maryland political leaders have raised concerns about conditions inside the Fallon building.
In March, the Amica Center and nonprofit CASA held a rally to highlight the experiences of those detained. One CASA member said his daughter had been held in the facility for several days.
"They are forced to endure meals of insufficient food, barely any water, and most appallingly, people like my daughter are being denied their vital medications they need for their health and wellbeing," the CASA member said.
In April, staffers for Van Hollen and Alsobrooks visited the building. Following the visit, the two senators wrote a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons about the reported conditions that detainees faced while in holding cells.
In their letter, the senators said they learned detainees were being held longer than allowed by ICE standards and that the facility could not meet basic needs.
They also cited overcrowded holding cells without beds, inadequate food service, and said there was no on-site medical staff.
ICE Baltimore responds to claims
ICE has previously responded to the claims about conditions at its Baltimore facility, explaining that the holding rooms at the location are not held to the same standards as detention facilities.
"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 agency said in a statement.
The agency also said it complies with federal laws, and the ICE Health Service Corps is on site to provide medical services when needed.
"In the event of a medical emergency, detainees are promptly transported to nearby hospitals to receive immediate and appropriate care," the agency said in a statement. "ICE remains dedicated to transparency and accountability in our operations."
