Maryland Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth returned to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Baltimore on Monday to assess the agency’s procedures and operations firsthand.
The George H. Fallon Federal Building, which includes five immigration holding rooms, has drawn scrutiny from other state lawmakers concerned about its conditions and management.
Following a guided tour and discussions with ICE officials, Elfreth shared her findings at a press conference. The agency has consistently emphasized that the facility is a processing center rather than a detention facility, asserting that immigrants would be “quickly processed and transferred to permanent housing at a detention facility.” ICE has refuted claims of “inhumane conditions,” affirming its commitment to enforcing immigration laws fairly and humanely.
Local news outlet WJZ has sought comments from ICE regarding the recent visit.
Insights from the Baltimore ICE Facility Visit
During her visit, Elfreth engaged directly with the processes involved when individuals are taken into custody. She queried ICE leaders about hygiene resources offered to detainees and access to legal counsel.
ICE officials reported that detainees receive packages that include essential items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, wipes, and menstrual products. Elfreth stated that officials assured her that all detainees have access to legal representation and clergy, and that families are informed when detainees are transferred to other facilities.
“They indicated they were doing all of this, and we will be holding them accountable,” Elfreth remarked. She also sought data comparing arrests of individuals with criminal records to those without, expressing concern that “Marylanders are tired of seeing their neighbors with no criminal record taken away.”
During her visit, Elfreth noted there were eight or nine detainees present at the facility. This visit occurred nearly two weeks after several other members of Congress had toured the site, which was reported as empty during a previous surveillance visit.
Elfreth’s inspection took place shortly after a judicial ruling ordered modifications to the facility’s maximum capacity, limiting ICE to holding 55 individuals across five waiting rooms.
Ongoing Concerns Surrounding Baltimore’s ICE Facility
In March, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown initiated a lawsuit against ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obtain records concerning conditions within the facility. This legal action follows multiple congressional visits over the past year, during which lawmakers raised alarms about overcrowded detention rooms, detainee conditions, and inadequate access to legal resources.
Recently, a collective of lawmakers also highlighted serious concerns about a reported outbreak of legionella bacteria within the facility. In a letter sent to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), they noted the bacteria had been detected in November 2022 and urged the agency to take swift action while inquiring about measures being implemented to protect detainees and employees.
ICE officials have stated that detainees were provided with bottled water, and the facility has implemented an ASHRAE drinking water management plan designed to flush the system. This plan includes documented flushing, temperature and disinfectant residual checks, as well as periodic retesting for legionella. ICE further communicated that the GSA is in regular contact with tenant agencies to ensure the safety of facilities for staff and the public.
