Members of Maryland's congressional delegation were shut out from a Baltimore ICE facility this week in what they've called a blatant disregard for federal law and their oversight responsibilities, the delegation, including Democratic Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen along with Representatives Johnny Olszewski Jr., Sarah Elfreth, Glenn Ivey, and Kweisi Mfume, attempted to inspect the George H. Fallon Federal Building but were denied entry, despite previously notifying ICE and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem of their planned visit, an action they say is within their rights under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
In a scenario that seems to defy the explicit permissions granted to Congress for oversight actions, the lawmakers stated in a collective statement to WMAR2 News, "This visit was part of our collective oversight responsibility to ensure ICE is treating detainees humanely and operating within the bounds of federal law," and further asserted that the Act does not require them to provide prior notice, however, the ICE official they encountered claimed it was merely an office, not a detention center which was a contradiction since congressional staffers and the Maryland Attorney General's office previously reported that immigrants were being held there for several days at a time in "hold rooms."
Amidst the tension, Republican Representative Andy Harris criticized his fellow Maryland lawmakers, suggesting their actions were performative rather than substantive, saying, "These Maryland lawmakers didn't lift a finger to stop illegal immigrants and MS-13 gangs from pouring into our state, but now they're staging a 'sit-in,'" according to WMAR2 News.
Senator Angela Alsobrooks, alluding to the more pressing humanitarian concerns over photo opportunities, refrained from responding directly to Harris's critique, instead focused on the need for collaboration to obtain disaster relief for Maryland flood victims which had been recently denied, during a press event held in front of the facility where they were refused entry, she emphasized the unsuitable conditions, noting that some of the ICE agents were "walking around that building with masks on," which spoke volumes to the conditions inside, where previous visits had identified overcrowding and insufficient facilities for detainees, her sentiments were echoed by CASA's director Crisaly De Los Santos who labeled the ICE's blockade of the Congressional access as "outrageous," emphasizing that if elected representatives could be treated with such disregard, the common person's treatment might be far worse, as reported by Maryland Matters.
