Washington, DC-Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks were joined by U.S. Representatives Johnny Olszewski, Sarah Elfreth, Glenn Ivey, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leadership condemning enforcement actions across the state that have stoked fear, caused injury, damaged property, and denied individuals their due process rights and dignity.

The lawmakers' letter cites constituent concerns about ongoing impacts of ICE operations on Marylanders. This includes the conditions of holding rooms at ICE's Baltimore Field office, which are designed for short-term detentions not to exceed 12 hours. However, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations has utilized these facilities to confine individuals for days while denying them basic human needs and legal counsel. The letter also comes on the heels of news reports revealingICE's plans to hold as many as 80,000 detained immigrants in new warehouse-style detention centers around the country, including a processing facility in Hagerstown, Maryland.

"As members of Maryland's Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns regarding Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") and Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") operations in our state over the past year, and to state our staunch opposition to reported plans to expand ICE detention. DHS and ICE have stoked fear throughout our communities by conducting reckless enforcement actions that have resulted in injuries, property damage, and unlawful or prolonged detentions without regard for our constituents' safety and fundamental rights," the lawmakers begin.

"These practices have no place in Maryland, are incompatible with our values, and underscore our opposition to any expansion of ICE's presence in our communities," they continued. "Any efforts to subject Hagerstown and Washington County to such a facility without the consent of state and local officials or our constituents is a serious violation of the principles of federalism and self-governance."

The lawmakers go on to address the reported potential new ICE facility in Hagerstown, writing, "Our state has spoken. We believe no person in the United States, regardless of immigration status, should be subjected to inhumane conditions or detained without dignity or due process."

The lawmakers concluded the letter with a demand for DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to submit all documentation, including "planning materials, solicitations, proposals, site assessments, and communications" concerning Hagerstown and other locations in Maryland since last year.

Read the letter.