Maryland Rep. Raskin Visits 'Overcrowded' Baltimore ICE Facility

Lawmaker calls for congressional investigation into 'inhumane' conditions at holding center.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland's 8th district, made an unannounced visit to the federal building in Baltimore where ICE detainees are being held. Raskin said he was given a firsthand look at the overcrowded conditions inside the facility, which he described as 'staggeringly overcrowded' with 134 people packed into the space. The lawmaker is now calling for a congressional investigation into the facility's conditions, which he says are inhumane and not fit for housing detainees.

Why it matters

Raskin's visit and subsequent calls for oversight highlight ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigration detainees, especially in facilities not designed for long-term housing. The conditions he witnessed raise questions about the federal government's handling of the immigration system and whether detainees' basic rights and dignity are being upheld.

The details

During his visit, Raskin said the Baltimore ICE field office is not designed as a detention facility, but rather a holding center where many people are packed into small spaces. He noted that staff suggested the facility was nowhere near capacity, even though he saw 134 people crammed inside. Raskin said the detainees have no opportunity to go outside or move around, and are forced to 'eat and sleep and live under those conditions' for days on end.

  • Raskin made the unannounced visit on February 13, 2026.

The players

Jamie Raskin

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Maryland's 8th congressional district who visited the ICE facility in Baltimore and is calling for a congressional investigation into the conditions there.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency responsible for the Baltimore facility where detainees are being held in what Raskin described as 'inhumane' conditions.

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What they’re saying

“What we really need, and I wish we had, was a Congress that was committed to doing some basic oversight so we could have humanitarian conditions.”

— Jamie Raskin, U.S. Representative (wbal.com)

“I do not think that Americans or Marylanders would be proud that people are being forced to eat and sleep and live under those conditions.”

— Jamie Raskin, U.S. Representative (wbal.com)

What’s next

Raskin is interested in having the Immigration Subcommittee look into the facility's conditions and plans to push for a congressional investigation.

The takeaway

Raskin's visit and subsequent calls for oversight underscore the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding the treatment of immigration detainees, particularly in facilities not designed for long-term housing. This case highlights the need for greater transparency, accountability, and adherence to humanitarian standards within the immigration detention system.