Thousands Rally in Downtown Baltimore Against ICE, Citing Detention Conditions and Recent Federal Enforcement Actions

Large downtown march targets federal immigration operations

Thousands of people demonstrated in Downtown Baltimore as part of a growing wave of protests focused on federal immigration enforcement. The rally centered on the George H. Fallon Federal Building at 31 Hopkins Plaza, a location that houses a field office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is closely associated with federal immigration processing in the region.

Organizers framed the demonstration as a call to end ICE operations in Maryland and to increase public and governmental scrutiny of immigration enforcement practices. Protesters gathered near the federal complex and moved through the downtown area, with the demonstration drawing participation from multiple local advocacy and political organizations.

Detention conditions in Baltimore become a flashpoint

The protest came amid renewed attention to conditions inside immigration holding spaces in Baltimore after a video circulated online showing crowded conditions in a holding room. Litigation has also been ongoing over whether detainees have been held for extended periods in facilities designed for short-term stays. Federal authorities have cited operational and transportation disruptions during severe winter weather as a factor affecting transfers to longer-term detention sites.

Advocates and attorneys involved in related public campaigns have alleged that detainees have faced a lack of basic accommodations in short-term holding spaces, including limited access to beds and showers. Federal officials have disputed aspects of those claims in public statements and court filings, while acknowledging that holding operations can be affected by transfer capacity and logistics.

Local politics and state policy debates intersect with federal enforcement

In Maryland, the protests have intersected with debates over whether local and state agencies should cooperate with ICE. Organizers have urged state leaders to restrict or end formal cooperation agreements that allow local law enforcement to perform certain immigration enforcement functions in collaboration with federal authorities. Proposals to limit such agreements have been introduced in prior legislative sessions, reflecting a recurring policy divide over enforcement roles and civil liberties.

Separate demonstrations in recent months have also highlighted data compiled by a national immigration data project indicating a sharp rise in immigration arrests in Maryland in 2025 compared with 2024, with a significant share of those arrests occurring in Baltimore City.

Protests linked to national unrest over immigration enforcement incidents

The Downtown Baltimore demonstration took place in a broader national context of protest activity following high-profile enforcement incidents in other states, including Minnesota, where public outrage has escalated after fatalities connected to federal immigration operations. In Baltimore, organizers and participants have cited these events as part of the rationale for mobilization, arguing that local communities are affected by enforcement trends even when specific incidents occur elsewhere.

• Location: Downtown Baltimore, centered on Hopkins Plaza and nearby federal facilities
• Main focus: ICE operations, detention conditions, and state-local cooperation with federal enforcement
• Broader context: Nationwide demonstrations following enforcement-related incidents and policy escalation

Protest messaging emphasized due process, oversight of detention practices, and demands for changes in how immigration enforcement is carried out in Maryland.