Congressman Raskin Exposes Overcrowded ICE Facility in Baltimore Visit
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin conducted an unannounced oversight visit to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility at the George H. Fallon Federal Building in downtown Baltimore on Thursday. The visit revealed what Raskin described as "disgraceful" and "staggeringly overcrowded" conditions for detainees.
Shocking Conditions Revealed During Unannounced Inspection
In a detailed post on social media platform X, Congressman Raskin documented his findings from the surprise inspection. He reported observing approximately 60 men packed shoulder-to-shoulder in a single room, forced to remain there 24 hours a day. The room contained only one toilet and lacked any shower facilities for the detainees.
"I just exercised my right as a Member of Congress to conduct an unannounced oversight visit of the ICE field facility in Baltimore," Raskin stated. "The staff I met with respected my right to visit, but what I saw was disgraceful."
Contrast Between Facilities and Immediate Demands
Raskin noted a particularly troubling contrast during his inspection. While the main holding area was severely overcrowded, a separate room designated for dangerous criminals and violent offenders remained completely empty. This observation highlighted what Raskin called an inappropriate allocation of space and resources within the facility.
The Congressman emphasized that ICE Director Kristi Noem oversees a budget of approximately $75 billion that could be used to ensure more humane conditions for detainees. "They sleep like sardines with aluminum foil blankets," Raskin described. "Whether it's for three days or seven days, nobody would want a member of their family warehoused there."
Specific Facility Details and Congressional Response
According to CBS News reports confirmed by Raskin's visit, the Baltimore facility currently holds 134 adult detainees with no children present. However, upwards of 55 individuals were crammed into holding rooms for multiple days at a time, far exceeding the facility's intended capacity.
"You wouldn't believe how many people were packed in there," Raskin remarked. "This is an office building. It is not created for these purposes."
While detainees received three meals daily, they were forced to sleep on floors without access to showers. Raskin expressed particular concern about the single toilet serving dozens of men in crowded conditions.
Historical Context and Previous Documentation
Last month, a viral video provided visual evidence of conditions inside an ICE holding room in Baltimore, showing dozens of people packed into confined spaces with many forced to sit or lie on the floor. Officials confirmed to Maryland Congresswoman April McClain Delaney that the video was recorded inside the same George H. Fallon Federal Building.
Congresswoman Delaney explained earlier this month that "this whole detention centre 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 asked for habeas corpus, if they have medical conditions, or if the transport planes are full."
Human Impact and Call for National Reform
Raskin directly addressed the human impact of these conditions, stating, "I would tell the family members that their family members are in an uncomfortable situation. They are packed in in a way that no one would want to see their family members."
The Congressman concluded with a call for systemic improvement: "I hope we are going to be able to do better in facilities like this over the country." Raskin and his congressional colleagues are demanding immediate answers and corrective action from ICE officials regarding the overcrowded conditions observed during the Baltimore facility inspection.
