The Burlington, MA ICE Field Office, an office-based holding facility not designed for prolonged detention, has become the focus of mounting reports of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, lack of beds and sanitation, barriers to legal access, and the detention of vulnerable individuals, including minors and pregnant women.
Since January 20, 2025, groups of activists have been protesting at the Burlington facility and raising awareness about the disturbing and unacceptable conditions within. Bearing Witness New England, Justice4All, and many others have been taking the lead in this effort, doggedly showing up every week to ensure that detainees in Massachusetts are not forgotten.
This toolkit comes from the IMC Immigration Justice Action Team (IJAT). Any questions can be directed to immigration-justice-action-team@indivisible-ma.org
Former detainees, attorneys, advocates, and elected officials are raising serious concerns about transparency, due process, and basic human rights protections inside the facility. Federal courts have repeatedly affirmed that Members of Congress possess the legal authority to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE detention facilities, recognizing that surprise visits are essential to preventing agencies from concealing conditions or obstructing oversight. Despite this, DHS/ICE continues to issue policies that obstruct Congress’s lawful oversight authority.
Although Members of Congress have the legal and constitutional authority to conduct oversight inspections, ICE has repeatedly stonewalled and obstructed these inspections, either by denying access or refusing to give information. There are
concerns that ICE may intentionally depopulate the facility when it knows a Member of Congress will visit. For an analysis of how Congressional visits have missed the highest census dates at the Burlington ICE Field Office, read this analysis from Todd Palmer at Justice4All.
Because of ICE roadblocks that Congress is encountering, it is essential that congressional visits be persistent and thorough. Both announced and unannounced inspections are essential tools for human rights advocates. In addition to routinely inspecting the facility’s physical conditions, Members of Congress need to review data and policies and speak with detainees without intimidation.
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