Maryland Attorney General Launches Dual Legal Offensive Against Federal Immigration Detention Centers Citing Unlawful Conditions and Environmental Risks

Attorney General Anthony Brown seeks to block a new 1,500-person ICE facility and sues for records on "unlawful" conditions at a Baltimore detention center.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 6:42 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Maryland Matters

State Challenges Conditions at Baltimore Holding Facility

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has escalated a legal battle against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), filing a federal lawsuit to compel the agency to release records regarding its Baltimore detention center. The state’s probe, initiated in January, focuses on the George H. Fallon Building, where investigators allege that detainees are subjected to unsanitary conditions, severe overcrowding, and a lack of essential medical care. According to the filing, ICE has consistently blocked the state’s subpoenas with generic objections, prompting the Attorney General to seek judicial intervention to ensure transparency and compliance with human rights standards.

Allegations of Overcrowding and Medical Neglect

The lawsuit details a stark disparity between the facility's intended capacity and its current usage. While designed to hold a maximum of 56 people for up to 12 hours, authorities allege that ICE has detained more than 120 individuals simultaneously, with some held for over 10 days in windowless rooms. Reported conditions include a single toilet for upwards of 50 people and the absence of showers or beds. Attorney General Brown cited specific instances of neglect, including a detainee with a brain tumor who reportedly went without medical attention for over a week and another individual who resorted to self-harm due to psychological distress.

Emergency Injunction Sought for Williamsport Project

In a concurrent legal move, the state has requested an emergency injunction to immediately halt the retrofitting of an 825,000-square-foot warehouse in Washington County. ICE recently awarded a 113 million dollar contract to begin transforming the Williamsport site into a detention center capable of housing 1,500 people. State officials argue that federal authorities are bypassing critical environmental and legal obligations in their haste to complete the project. The Attorney General warned that starting construction without proper review could cause irreparable damage to local communities, protected species, and regional waterways.