Baltimore officials seek limits on city interaction with ICE after video raises detention concerns

Demands for policy change after footage circulates

Baltimore elected officials and community leaders rallied outside the George H. Fallon Federal Building this week, urging the city to reduce cooperation with federal immigration enforcement amid renewed scrutiny of conditions inside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding area in the building.

The calls follow the circulation of a video that appears to show numerous detainees crowded into a room, some lying on the floor. The footage has intensified ongoing concerns raised by advocates and attorneys about the short-term holding rooms used by ICE’s Baltimore field office.

Proposed limits on access to city property and operations

City Councilmember Mark Conway (District 4) said he plans to pursue legislation aimed at restricting how ICE interacts with Baltimore city government and city-owned facilities. Among the measures he described were requirements that ICE obtain a judge-signed warrant before entering non-public spaces in city-owned buildings, and clearer separation between local public-safety functions and immigration enforcement activities.

Conway also said he intends to press for a prohibition on the city’s participation in ICE staging and operational activity around Baltimore. He framed the effort as a public-safety issue tied to community trust and the relationship between residents and local law enforcement.

Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen said he expects to review the legislation once it is introduced.

Federal facility at center of broader dispute

The Fallon Federal Building houses federal offices, including immigration-related operations. Attorneys involved in litigation over detention conditions have described the Baltimore site as a processing location designed for temporary holds rather than extended detention, while also alleging that detainees have at times remained there for longer periods amid crowding and limited access to basic services. Separately, federal officials have maintained that the facilities are intended for short-term use and that detainees are provided food, water and basic necessities consistent with policy requirements.

Following the video’s circulation, federal officials attributed the apparent crowding to winter weather that delayed transfers to longer-term detention facilities. Attorneys and advocates have questioned whether weather alone explains the conditions depicted, arguing that overcrowding and extended stays have been recurring issues.

Lawmakers seek access and oversight

Maryland’s congressional delegation has intensified oversight efforts in recent days, with multiple lawmakers seeking entry to observe conditions and assess detainee access to legal counsel. Past visits by lawmakers have included guided tours; some lawmakers have said they were not allowed to speak with detainees during those visits.

Key questions moving forward

• What specific forms of cooperation currently exist between Baltimore agencies and ICE operations in the city.
• Whether city legislation can practically restrict ICE activity involving city property without interfering with federal authority in federal facilities.
• What standards govern short-term ICE holding rooms, and how compliance is evaluated when transfers are delayed.

City leaders are expected to debate the scope of any proposed restrictions as the City Council considers legislation in the weeks ahead.