By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
On Jan. 30 protestors gathered in downtown Baltimore, Minneapolis and cities nationwide to oppose the violent immigration raids and recent deaths at the hands of agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol and other federal agencies.
In Baltimore, the march and rally came as legislators and residents voiced concern about the alleged sub-par living conditions inside the George H. Fallon Federal Building, where those arrested in the immigration raids are being held. A leaked viral video of the ICE detention facility at the building in downtown Baltimore fueled outrage. The video showed dozens of men crammed into one room, many lying on the floor.
Braving the cold, hundreds of protesters called for accountability and reforms to federal immigration enforcement.
“We’ve seen the horrible conditions that immigrants in Baltimore are being held in, in this building right here,” said Kenya Levy, 27, standing outside the federal building at 31 Hopkins Plaza. “We’ve seen the horrific killings in Minneapolis, and we’re out here to protest that we are not okay with it. We are not okay with ICE in our streets and we want to protect our communities.”
The AFRO reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the conditions of the facility but has not received a response.
Several legislators were denied access to the facility after the video emerged, but U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Md.-06) was allowed in on the day of the protest.
“While I am relieved to be granted access after requesting this tour nearly two months ago, it’s clear that ICE gave us a highly sanitized portrayal of this facility,” Delaney said in a statement, confirming what the video depicted.
Upon her visit to the Baltimore ICE facility, the Congresswoman found that the five holding rooms intended for short-term detention are being used for multi-day confinement. People there are forced to live in dirty conditions with no privacy and limited access to food and water.
“What remains unknown is what conditions look like when I’m not there,” Delaney said. “I made clear to all the ICE officials I met in Baltimore that I expect better for the people of this country, and I will hold ICE and staff accountable for any and all unlawful actions carried out in Maryland.”
Levy highlighted the unity behind the protest.
“We really want to make it clear that we stand with each other,” she said. “We’re stronger when we’re united.”
Protesters also addressed an ongoing debate within the Black community about whether immigration should be considered a Black issue.
“I would say that these issues affect everyone, even if you’re not an immigrant. We see that people are arrested because they look Brown or Black, not necessarily because they know their immigration status or where they were born,” Levy said. “We see an attack on one community as an attack on all of us, and we see that if we don’t stand together, they’ll eventually come for all of us. We don’t want that.”
Baltimore protester Brian Crosby, 36, encouraged Black people to protect themselves and protest in whatever way they choose.
“Black people should protect themselves at all costs,” Crosby said. “If you want to put your body on the front lines, do so, but if you want to stay home and protect yourself, and maybe just spread information around ICE, that’s also an option for you.”
He added that trouble like this has come for Black people before and will happen again.
“We know it’s going to come for us eventually,” he said.
Crosby said he has little faith that Congressional Democrats will curb ICE funding, but hopes for a future where the agency is dismantled.
“My goal would be the abolishment of ICE,” he said. “I think if we elect the right people in the future, we can move towards that goal.”