U.S. Rep Jamie Raskin went unannounced to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore Thursday to inspect conditions and reported seeing “severe overcrowding” and hearing from detainees who described their experience as “inhumane” during the visit.
The democrat who represents Maryland’s 8th congressional district is the ranking member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
“I witnessed people suffering,” Raskin said. “In this facility, originally meant to hold people for no more than 12 hours, ICE is keeping people for days in overcrowded rooms with one toilet and no showers. No one should be forced to endure this brutal treatment for days on end,” Raskin said.
He reported seeing one room over capacity, filled with 55 people. “I would not put more than a dozen or 15 people in [there],” Raskin said. “People were just shoulder to shoulder, and they are sleeping there on the ground with these aluminum blankets you’ve seen,” he said.
According the U.S. representative, some who have been there “five, six, seven days.” Although they are only supposed to be held for up to three days, according to Raskin.
Raskin is calling for the resignation of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and said U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan “should immediately commence House Judiciary Committee impeachment proceedings to remove her from office,” Raskin said.
“Her reign of terror must come to an end,” he said.
Raskin went to the facility with 12 other members of Congress.
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