MAGA melted down Monday afternoon as a Democratic senator staged a sit-in after being barred from a federal immigration detention facility in Baltimore.
Frustrated members of Maryland’s congressional delegation unsuccessfully tried to appeal to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official for permission to tour a temporary detention facility, The Baltimore Sun reported. They resorted to an improvised sit-in in a hallway after demanding entrance.
“We expect, quite frankly, that we will be allowed entrance,” Democratic Rep. Kweisi Mfume told an ICE official at the Fallon Federal Building. Mfume was blocked by a locked door from inspecting the facility.
Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, as well as Reps. Sarah Elfreth, Johnny Olszewski Jr., and Glenn Ivey, all Democrats, participated in the 20-minute sit in in the hallway, according to the report.
“Would you let people know that we’re out here,” Van Hollen told a man entering the office.
Live: Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation aren’t being let in to tour Baltimore ICE detention facility. It looks like a sit-in. pic.twitter.com/mO9Fthcna1
— Jeff Barker (@sunjeffbarker) July 28, 2025
MAGA influencers and Trump administration officials melted down on social media over the sit-in.
https://x.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/19499081539921...
Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, which oversees ICE, wrote on X: "These are the monsters that @ChrisVanHollen is protecting over Americans victims." She attached a photo of four men accused of crimes, including rape, child pornography possession, and child sex abuse.
The conservative news outlet Townhall.com wrote on X, "Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen is now staging a 'sit in' after he was barred from entering an ICE facility in Baltimore. Look at his face!"
The MAGA account I Meme Therefore I Am called the sit in a "tantrum" and "political theater at its finest."
Right-wing journalist Nick Sorter, meanwhile, wrote on X: "LMAO! Democrats members of Congress, including Chris Van Hollen, were DENIED entry to ICE’s facility housing MS-13 gang members in Baltimore, so they’re just sitting on the ground outside. They look so defeated No margaritas with illegals today, @ChrisVanHollen!"
Eric Daugherty, assistant news director at Florida's Voice, wrote on X, "BREAKING - REJECTED AGAIN! Senator Chris Van Hollen and other Democrats tried to storm into an ICE facility in Baltimore but were turned down. So they’re now doing a 'sit in.' The Democrats’ all-time low just keeps getting lower."
And MAGA influencer Paul A. Szypula wrote on X, "Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) appears completely dejected as he was just denied entrance to the Baltimore ICE facility. He’s now staging a 'sit-in.' What a disgrace."