Goldman Demands Answers About Treatment of Ice Detainees Held at the Metropolitan Detention Center
ICE Is Detaining Nearly 200 Immigrant Detainees At The Metropolitan Detention Center In Brooklyn; Most Do Not Have Criminal Records
Inquiry Follows Reports Of Detainees At The MDC Being Denied Medical Care, Legal Counsel
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Dan Goldman sent a letter to leadership of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) demanding answers about the treatment of over 191 ICE detainees being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. The inquiry follows reports of poor conditions at the MDC, including a lack of access to medical care, barriers to access to legal counsel and in-person interpreters, and delays in the MDC producing detainees to scheduled appearances, which has resulted in detainees arriving to their hearings late.
Last week, Rep. Goldman became the first lawmaker to conduct oversight at the MDC since it began detaining immigrants last June. Throughout the summer, Rep. Goldman was repeatedly illegally denied entrance to the MDC, despite BOP having previously promised to accommodate a congressional oversight visit.
“Despite my best efforts last summer to conduct oversight of the immigration pods at the MDC, I was denied access by DHS despite following the proper protocols established by the BOP,” wrote Rep. Goldman. “Yesterday, February 18, 2026, I was finally able to inspect the conditions of the immigrant detainees held at the MDC. During my visit, the DHS and BOP officials reassured me that the immigration detainees had access to the same medical care and unmonitored legal calls and visits by legal counsel as the criminal detainees. Unfortunately, these assurances and representations run contrary to reports my office has received over the last few months.”
Rep. Goldman is demanding answers to the following questions:
Since the IAA was first enacted, how many ICE detainees have been detained and housed at the MDC Brooklyn facility? As of the date this letter was received, what was the current ICE detainee population count?
Publicly available data indicates that the vast majority of the ICE detainee population is “non-criminal.” How many individuals who are currently detained as part of the ICE population have criminal records? How many do not? Please provide a detailed report of non-criminal versus criminal detainees held at the facility.
What steps have been taken to ensure detainees have access to medical care such as medical visits and evaluations and are provided medications in a timely manner?
What steps have been taken to ensure detainees have reliable access to counsel, including improvements to phone call quality and access to private spaces where call can take place?
What steps have been taken to improve access to in-person translation services? Are there plans to allow detainees to call interpreters via phone, like other detention centers?
With the use of an additional ICE detainee unit in mind, please provide a plan to expand space for in-person visits and legal calls, as well as the availability of court booths.
It has been reported that the process in which detainees are able to coordinate social and community visits are unreasonably burdensome, requiring a “visitation form” to be completed between a detainee and its intended visitor while corresponding through mail. Is there an alternative process to complete this form that would streamline the process? Please provide a detailed account or sample of what this form entails.
Reports indicate that detainees have been released from the facility without their phones, identification, or other personal property taken at arrest. What steps can be taken to require MDC Brooklyn to retain and return personal property to detainees upon release?
As of the date of this letter, how much money has ICE reimbursed BOP for the costs and expenses related to the housing and detention of ICE detainees? Please provide a detailed accounting of the costs associated with the IAA.
Rep. Goldman has regularly attempted to conduct oversight at MDC, which has long been plagued by violence, chronic understaffing, inadequate medical treatment, and inmate deaths. In July, he questioned BOP’s Interagency Agreement (IAA) with ICE to house immigration detainees at MDC and demanded that the BOP immediately suspend all transfers to MDC and any other facility with a documented history of unsafe conditions.
Rep. Goldman has requested a response no later than February 27th, 2026.
The full text of Rep. Goldman’s letter is available here or below:
Dear Secretary Noem, Acting Director Lyons, and Director Marshall:
I am writing once again to request answers regarding the Interagency Agreement (IAA) between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) which has resulted in the detention of nearly 200 immigrant detainees — most of whom do not have criminal records — at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (MDC Brooklyn), which heretofore has only housed criminal defendants.
On July 10, 2025, I wrote a letter to Director Marshall outlining my concerns regarding the interagency agreement. In this letter, I referenced MDC Brooklyn’s troublesome history of unsanitary conditions, understaffing, extended lockdowns, and numerous incidents of violence. Considering these conditions, I feared that — despite confirmation that Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers (ICE) would serve as the primary point of contact for the day-to- day needs of detainees — a facility that cannot provide basic care to its current inmate population would not be able to properly accommodate an influx of new immigration detainee transfers. At the time, I requested the immediate suspension of the interagency agreement until it could be properly evaluated.
Despite my best efforts last summer to conduct oversight of the immigration pods at the MDC, I was denied access by DHS despite following the proper protocols established by the BOP. Yesterday, February 18, 2026, I was finally able to inspect the conditions of the immigrant detainees held at the MDC. During my visit, the DHS and BOP officials reassured me that the immigration detainees had access to the same medical care and unmonitored legal calls and visits by legal counsel as the criminal detainees. Unfortunately, these assurances and representations run contrary to reports my office has received over the last few months, which include the following:
Lack of access to medical care, which has resulted in detainees receiving delayed medical visits, evaluations, and medication.
Barriers to accessing legal counsel, with legal calls being limited, poor quality, or even forced to be held in non-private spaces.
Reports of delays in MDC producing detainees to scheduled appearances, which has resulted in detainees arriving to their hearings late.
Additionally, there are indications that MDC has failed to provide detainees with timely access to in-person interpreters, which delays legal consultations and medical care.
Several lawsuits filed by ICE detainees in this facility reinforce some of the reports above. Two male HIV-positive detainees described prolonged lack of access to preventative medical care, with one individual experiencing severe symptoms before staff finally took action. Another detainee described experiencing months of severe dental pain when he was in need of a tooth removal. Medical staff only treated him with ibuprofen. Several other detainees described several instances of prolonged lockdowns where they would be left in their cells for days at a time. Moreover, testimonials from detainees allude to suffering conditions inside MDC Brooklyn that not only support the reports given to my office but intensify my concern for what is taking place at this facility.
These are just some of the many issues that have been brought to my attention since the IAA was enacted. Since then, the BOP has confirmed with my office that the agreement was extended for an additional six months and that a second unit will now be utilized to house detainees. I was dismayed that so many non-violent, non-criminal immigrants who have been in this country for many years, have built families here, and are productive working members of their communities are being held in a criminal prison indefinitely while they await the outcome of their immigration cases. For the most part, the men held there are not convicted criminals and have no control over the duration of their immigration proceedings, which is generally far too long through no fault of their own. This appears to be a clear attempt to force these immigrants to self-deport in order to get out of prison.
Given that the IAA is now expected to last for more than one year, it is essential that both DHS and BOP ensure the issues surrounding medical care, legal counsel access, timely hearing production, and translation services are immediately addressed. In addition, I am requesting answers to the following questions and requests no later than February 27th, 2026.
Since the IAA was first enacted, how many ICE detainees have been detained and housed at the MDC Brooklyn facility? As of the date this letter was received, what was the current ICE detainee population count?
Publicly available data indicates that the vast majority of the ICE detainee population is “non-criminal.” How many individuals who are currently detained as part of the ICE population have criminal records? How many do not? Please provide a detailed report of non-criminal versus criminal detainees held at the facility.
What steps have been taken to ensure detainees have access to medical care such as medical visits and evaluations and are provided medications in a timely manner?
What steps have been taken to ensure detainees have reliable access to counsel, including improvements to phone call quality and access to private spaces where call can take place?
What steps have been taken to improve access to in-person translation services? Are there plans to allow detainees to call interpreters via phone, like other detention centers?
With the use of an additional ICE detainee unit in mind, please provide a plan to expand space for in-person visits and legal calls, as well as the availability of court booths.
It has been reported that the process in which detainees are able to coordinate social and community visits are unreasonably burdensome, requiring a “visitation form” to be completed between a detainee and its intended visitor while corresponding through mail. Is there an alternative process to complete this form that would streamline the process? Please provide a detailed account or sample of what this form entails.
Reports indicate that detainees have been released from the facility without their phones, identification, or other personal property taken at arrest. What steps can be taken to require MDC Brooklyn to retain and return personal property to detainees upon release?
As of the date of this letter, how much money has ICE reimbursed BOP for the costs and expenses related to the housing and detention of ICE detainees? Please provide a detailed accounting of the costs associated with the IAA.
We look forward to your prompt and thorough response.
###