Congressman calls for halt to troubled MDC Brooklyn's intake of immigrants detained by ICE

Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News on Jul 10, 2025

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NEW YORK — U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman is calling for an immediate halt to troubled MDC Brooklyn’s intake of immigrant detainees, saying the influx of inmates will only further deteriorate the lockup’s “already deplorable conditions.”

“It is neither ethical nor safe for BOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons) to divert limited resources and space at the MDC facility to house noncriminal individuals to further the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, when your agency has so glaringly failed to meet safety standards prior to the added strain of these new detainees,” Goldman wrote in a letter addressed to the Director of BOP, William K. Marshall III.

Goldman, who reps New York’s 10th congressional district, which includes MDC Brooklyn, said adding additional U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees to the “already overburdened” Sunset Park federal jail “will inevitably exacerbate the already deplorable conditions at MDC for both the detainees and personnel.”

Last month MDC Brooklyn began holding over 100 ICE detainees in its East Building as part of an interagency agreement between ICE and BOP to utilize eight federal facilities across the country to hold immigrants ensnared in Donald Trump’s crackdown.

Since taking the detained immigrants in, reports have shown an increase of lockdowns which often take place because of staffing shortages and unsafe conditions, Goldman noted. These shutdowns isolate detainees, subjecting them to an increased risk of neglect, he argued.

In recent years, federal judges have described the jail as “barbaric” and “contemptuous of human dignity”, Goldman wrote. Defense attorneys have also long denounced the hellish conditions at the severely understaffed jail, which has seen several fatal stabbings and many violent assaults. Inmates have also complained of spoiled and infested food and jail staff have been accused of ignoring detainees’ serious and in some cases life-threatening medical issues.

In addition to demanding the suspension of all transfers to MDC Brooklyn, Goldman asked how BOP and ICE decided the notorious jail would be an appropriate place to house detained immigrants, some of whom have no criminal records.

Goldman also asked for a detailed assessment of the jail’s conditions both before and after the ICE detainees were taken in, outlining how BOP is adjusting staffing schedules and resource allocation to accommodate them.

Finally, the congressman asked if BOP will receive any funds allocated through President Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’, which set aside roughly $170 billion for the administration’s immigration and border goals and how they’d intend to use that money to fix staffing issues and improve jail maintenance.

MDC Brooklyn currently houses Sean “Diddy” Combs and alleged healthcare CEO-killer Luigi Mangione. The jail has also been home to many other high profile inmates including singer R. Kelly and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

Goldman demanded BOP’s reply to the letter of inquiry by July 18th.

When asked if they plan to continue taking in ICE detainees, BOP spokesman Emery Nelson said, “The BOP responds directly to Members of Congress. Out of respect and deference to Members, we do not share our Congressional correspondence with the media or elaborate on the contents of such correspondence.”

Nelson did not address a request for an updated number of ICE detainees being held at the jail.