Protesters Decry Detention of 40 Women in ICE's Baltimore Holding Rooms

Activists claim women with no criminal histories were wrongfully held in poor conditions before being transferred or deported.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:24pm

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Protesters gathered in front of the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore on Friday to denounce the detainment of dozens of women in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) holding rooms in the city. The protesters, representing various advocacy groups, claimed that 40 women with no criminal histories were detained over a two-day period in March while attending required check-ins with ICE. They allege the women were held in poor conditions without access to water, toilets, or menstrual products before being transferred to other facilities, with nearly half already deported.

Why it matters

The incident has reignited concerns over the treatment of immigrants in ICE detention facilities, particularly the conditions of the holding rooms in Baltimore that have long been criticized by advocates and lawmakers as inhumane. It also highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities in Baltimore, where the city government has clashed with ICE over its policies.

The details

According to the protesters, the 40 women were simply attending required check-ins with ICE when they were detained and held in the agency's Baltimore holding rooms. The protesters, who were informed of the incident by activists in Washington state, say the women have active immigration cases and were following legal procedures to become permanent residents. They claim the women were transferred to other facilities the day before members of Maryland's Congressional delegation visited on March 9, and that nearly half have since been deported, with the remaining women traced to facilities in Washington and Arizona.

  • The incident occurred over a two-day period in March 2026.
  • On March 9, 2026, members of Maryland's Congressional delegation visited the ICE holding rooms in Baltimore.

The players

People's Power Assembly (PPA)

A local advocacy group that organized the protest and has been in touch with the families of the detained women.

Andrew Mayton

An organizer with the People's Power Assembly who spoke to reporters about the incident.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for the holding rooms in Baltimore, which have long been criticized for their poor conditions.

International League of People's Struggle (ILPS) Baltimore DMV

One of the advocacy groups represented at the protest.

International Migrants Alliance

One of the advocacy groups represented at the protest.

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What they’re saying

“They have active cases in immigration. They're following everything through the legal means of becoming a permanent resident.”

— Andrew Mayton, Organizer, People's Power Assembly

“On the very day she was detained, she told the officers, ' My daughter is at school, ' to which they replied callously, ' Your daughter doesn't exist here.”

— Unnamed protester

What’s next

A federal judge in March granted motions in a class action lawsuit against ICE's Baltimore holding room operations, which limited how many people can be held and established some standards, such as how often the rooms need to be cleaned. The Maryland Attorney General's Office has also filed a lawsuit against ICE, asking for documents in its investigation into the holding rooms.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local communities in Baltimore, where the treatment of immigrants in ICE detention facilities, particularly the conditions of the holding rooms, has been a longstanding source of concern and controversy.