Maryland Democrats Stage Sit-In After Denied Entry of Baltimore ICE Facility
Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, along with Reps. Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, Kweisi Mfume, and Johnny Olszewski Jr. were seen sitting on the floor outside of a door with a sign that read, “ERO Baltimore Office,” after they were “prevented from conducting an oversight visit” at the George H. Fallon Federal Building, according to WMAR2 News.
The lawmakers issued a statement that they were trying to conduct oversight of the facility “to ensure ICE is treating detainees humanely and operating within the bounds of federal law,” according to the outlet.
“I joined Team Maryland in conducting oversight on the ICE facility in Baltimore,” Alsobrooks wrote in a post on X. “We were denied entry. The fear we are all feeling will pass, but the shame that our country will carry as a result of this conduct, will last generations.”
Per the outlet, under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, “Members of Congress are legally allowed to access federal holding facilities” and do not need prior notice: