DOJ Lawyers Blame ICE's 'Sloppy Recordkeeping' for Baltimore Overcrowding Issues
Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers have attributed overcrowding issues at the George H. Fallon Federal Office Building in Baltimore to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) 'sloppy recordkeeping.' This defense was presented during a hearing concerning allegations that ICE repeatedly violated a judge's order to prevent overcrowding at the facility. U.S. District Judge Julie Rebecca Rubin had issued an injunction in March, mandating that each detainee be provided at least 31 square feet of personal space. DOJ trial attorney Brendan Moore stated that while ICE could be charged with poor recordkeeping, their data was too unreliable to definitively prove routine noncompliance. Judge Rubin expressed skepticism, questioning how she could determine compliance if ICE's own booking records were unreliable. Plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit presented an expert report indicating overcrowding in at least one cell 67% of the time over four months, based on ICE's data. The DOJ countered with its own ...
