Baltimore Councilwoman Odette Ramos Slams ICE Presence

Ramos supports abolishing ICE, arguing the justice system should handle criminal cases involving those in the country illegally.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 12:36am

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Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette Ramos spoke out against the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city, saying she supports abolishing the agency. Ramos argued that the justice system should handle criminal cases involving those in the country illegally, rather than ICE, which she said is not properly trained and engages in racial profiling.

Why it matters

Ramos's comments come as the Baltimore City Council is considering legislation to limit ICE's ability to operate in the city. The council has also introduced a bill to ban private detention centers in Baltimore, amid concerns over conditions for detainees being held in the Fallon Building downtown.

The details

Ramos spoke on the 'T.J. Smith show' on Wednesday, saying 'What we're seeing now is a system that's been highly funded, but the folks are not trained properly and they're racial profiling, like that has to be dismantled. It has to be dismantled to be able to be corrected.' The City Council held a hearing on Tuesday on a bill that would stop the city from collaborating with ICE beyond what is required by federal law.

  • The City Council held a hearing on the ICE-limiting bill on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • Ramos made her comments on the 'T.J. Smith show' on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Odette Ramos

A Baltimore City Councilwoman who supports abolishing ICE and argues the justice system should handle criminal cases involving those in the country illegally.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that Ramos and the Baltimore City Council are seeking to limit the presence of in the city.

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What they’re saying

“What we're seeing now is a system that's been highly funded, but the folks are not trained properly and they're racial profiling, like that has to be dismantled. It has to be dismantled to be able to be corrected.”

— Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Councilwoman (WBAL)

What’s next

The Baltimore City Council is expected to vote on the bill to limit ICE's presence in the city in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Ramos's comments highlight the growing opposition to ICE's activities in cities like Baltimore, where there are concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of undocumented immigrants. The city's efforts to restrict ICE's operations reflect a broader national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies like ICE.