Whistleblower provides internal documents alleging severe overcrowding, mistreatment months before viral video sparked national outrage BALTIMORE — For the first time, someone who worked inside the Baltimore ICE detention facility at the center of a viral video showing severe overcrowding is speaking out publicly — and exclusively to WUSA9. The former worker whose identity WUSA9 is disguising at his request because they signed a non-disclosure agreement and could face legal action, provided internal documents and described conditions they say went far beyond what appeared in January’s viral video. "I worked there for several months and it was probably day one, day two that I saw the abuse," the worker said. "I saw people laying in feces. People throwing up, people laying in urine." Overcrowding: Worker vs. ICE The former worker provided WUSA9 with what they claim are internal head count sheets from December showing conditions worse than the viral video: 47, 50 and 56 detainees in the same cell — more than the worker counted in the video itself — and as many as 50 in an even smaller cell. "That looks like there's probably about 30 people in that cell. That's cell one. And I've seen 50 people in that cell," the worker said. "But worse than that is cell 3. Cell 3 is half that size. And I've seen 50 people in cell 3." The worker described detainees packed so tightly "you can't lay in that cell with 50 people unless you were touching someone from your head to your toes to your arms," with only 10-15 floor mats for 50 people. "People slept on the floor. We have bugs in there and they slept on the floor. The cold floor," the worker said, comparing the scenes to "pictures that I saw in elementary school of how they brought the slaves from Africa." ICE's response: In a statement to WUSA9, an ICE spokesperson flatly denied the allegations: "Overcrowding does not happen,” the statement read. “The recent video that the media is using to falsely accuse us was a temporary result of flight cancellations due to a historic snowstorm. What that video ACTUALLY shows is that ICE had the staff and resources necessary to take emergency measures and ensure everyone was taken care of an emergency situation." The spokesperson added: "ICE maintains occupancy within established guidelines." ICE has yet to respond to a follow up question asking what those guidelines are. However, the internal documents provided by the worker date to December — more than a month before the January winter storm ICE cited. Restraint Chair: Worker vs. ICE The worker described one particularly disturbing incident involving a detainee who had been returned from a hospital. "When we got back on the next shift, he was in the restraint chair. No one knew how to get him out of the restraint chair because we didn't have any training. So I had to go on to YouTube to figure out how to release the restraints," the worker said. When asked why the detainee was restrained, the worker said a guard responded: "That the [expletive] kept making noise all night." ICE's response: "Restraints are only used if a detainee poses a danger to themselves or others, never for disciplinary reasons, and not for extended periods. Staff are trained in their proper use, and all instances are monitored," the spokesperson said. The statement did not address the worker's claim that contract security guards lacked training on restraint chair use. Women's Hygiene: Worker vs. ICE When describing the treatment of women's sanitary needs, the worker's voice cracked with emotion. "We didn't always have sanitary stuff for them if they were having their cycle. They were given diapers," the worker said. "And because you can't put the diapers in the toilet, the rooms didn't have trash cans. So some of us would give them boxes. And they would fill up with these diapers." Asked about the emotional toll on detainees, the worker paused and struggled to continue. "Yeah, that was the…it did. But... you had to shut it out," the worker said. ICE's response: "Appropriate hygiene supplies, including sanitary products for female detainees, are provided," the spokesperson said. The statement did not address the specific allegation that women were given diapers instead of sanitary pads or tampons. Blankets: Worker vs. ICE The worker disputed ICE's claim that detainees receive "appropriate care including blankets." "We stopped giving them cotton blankets, blankets as we know them, because the blankets were covered in feces, lice, urine, and throw up," the worker said. "There's no way to clean these blankets. They won't allow anyone to take these blankets and wash them. So when we would see they would have feces on them, we would throw them away." The worker said detainees received emergency blankets like those seen in the viral video, but often complained of being cold and wore denim jackets issued by ICE — even though they were also covered in filth. ICE's response: "We have never provided cotton or wool blankets, as they could become a hazard to detainees in custody. Emergency blankets are used as they are effective and sanitary," the spokesperson said, adding that "detainees are provided with clean clothing, which leaves with them upon transfer and is not reused." The statement did not address the worker's allegation that denim jackets were covered in feces and reissued without being washed. Staff Conduct: Worker vs. ICE The worker provided screenshots of a group text message chain in which workers complained about the smell inside the facility. One message read: "smells like an animal house at the zoo." Another worker responded: "Goats?" "I find that to be heartless and cruel that you would refer to these people as animals at the zoo," the worker said. "And that's how I've seen some of the officers treat them and talk to them out of the Baltimore office like they were animals in a cage at the zoo." ICE's response: "All staff and contractors treat detainees with respect and dignity. Complaints of mistreatment or derogatory comments are always thoroughly investigated and addressed," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added: "The dedicated men and women of ICE uphold high standards of professionalism and care. Allegations that misrepresent ICE are damaging to the brave men and women who serve our communities and those in our care." Fired After Reporting Abuse The worker said they reported the conditions to supervisors, "but nothing was done." "As a matter of fact, they forced me out after reporting what happened and the abuse allegations," the worker said. WUSA9 reviewed a copy of the termination letter, which stated the worker "wasn't a good fit for the position." Contractor Responds The Baltimore ICE facility is run by ICE, but uses private security guards employed by contractor Paragon Professional Services, a subsidiary of Bering Straits Native Corporation. In a statement to WUSA9, Bering Straits Native Corporation said: "BSNC takes allegations seriously, and we remain committed to evaluating all matters with care and responsibility. Our concern is not only for the security and safety of detained individuals, but also for that of our employees. Our companies strive to ensure that all individuals who work for us, or who are placed in our care, are treated with dignity and respect." The statement did not directly address the specific allegations raised by the former worker, including the claims about sanitation, overcrowding, restraint chair use, or the worker's termination after reporting concerns. Not Alone in Raising Concerns The worker is not the only one raising alarms about conditions at the facility, located on the 6th floor of the George H. Fallon Federal Building in Baltimore. A federal class-action lawsuit filed in May 2025 alleges similar conditions. And last Friday, U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Maryland) toured the facility and called what she saw "horrific human rights abuses." The worker emphasized they are not opposed to immigration enforcement. "I'm for the deportation of illegal immigrants in this country, especially those that commit crimes. I knew who I was working for when I took this job. I had no problems with doing my job," the worker said. "I just have problems with the abuse and the treatment of the detainees on that floor." ICE told WUSA9 it “is committed to the safety, health, and dignity of all individuals in custody."