Maryland Lawmakers Make Surprise Visit to Baltimore ICE Facility

Lawmakers question lack of detainees after court order to limit capacity

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A group of Maryland lawmakers, led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, made a surprise visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in downtown Baltimore on Monday. The visit came after a federal judge ordered the facility to limit the number of detainees held to 56, but the lawmakers found the facility empty with no detainees present.

Why it matters

The surprise visit by Maryland lawmakers highlights ongoing concerns and scrutiny over the operations of ICE detention facilities, particularly in light of recent court orders to limit capacity. The lawmakers' inability to get clear answers from ICE officials about the whereabouts of detainees raises questions about transparency and accountability.

The details

During the visit, the lawmakers said they were not given any explanation as to where the detainees were being held, with ICE officials telling them they were reviewing the court decision. The lawmakers also had their phones confiscated at the start of the tour, preventing them from taking photos inside the facility. Van Hollen said the lawmakers will now subpoena ICE officials to get more answers.

  • The surprise visit took place on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • On Friday, a federal judge ordered the ICE facility to limit the number of detainees held to 56.

The players

Chris Van Hollen

A Maryland senator who led the group of lawmakers on the surprise visit to the ICE facility.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that operates the detention facility in downtown Baltimore.

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What they’re saying

“Now today it happens to be that there is nobody in this facility, so we asked a lot of questions of the acting director there.”

— Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Senator (WBAL)

What’s next

The Maryland lawmakers plan to subpoena ICE officials to get more answers about the whereabouts of detainees and the agency's response to the court order limiting capacity.

The takeaway

This visit by Maryland lawmakers highlights the ongoing scrutiny and lack of transparency surrounding ICE detention facilities, particularly in light of court orders to limit capacity. The lawmakers' inability to get clear answers raises concerns about accountability and the treatment of detainees.