U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officers arrested 13 people in Aspen Hill and Silver Spring Monday, but this action was not very different than what had happened previously, according to county officials.
Nine of those arrested were on a list of wanted suspected criminals, according to Dr. Earl Stoddard, Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer.
The other four arrested were at the same location and were interacting with the people ICE had targeted, Stoddard explained during a briefing with the news media Wednesday.
Stoddard said he is in frequent contact with the head of ICE’s Baltimore office and is informed when arrests are planned in the county. ICE has told Stoddard that they are only arresting “the worst of the worst” criminals, he said.
However, Stoddard pointed out, if ICE officers are given quotas as to how many people they must arrest, they may switch their tactics in the future.
“Obviously we are tracking this on a regular basis,” he said.
During Monday’s arrests, reporters from the Associated Press were invited on a ride along and produced this video. According to the video, ICE officials targeted four people wanted for child pornography, a homicide in El Salvador, armed robbery and drugs.
Those arrested, but not originally targeted, are referred to as “collateral arrests,” according to an ICE official.
Stoddard said he was told that ICE officials would not be in Montgomery County on Wednesday. “They have been very forthcoming,” he said.
“So far, we haven’t seen anything that would qualify as a raid,” County Executive Marc Elrich said. They are arresting people who are on a list and “have not gone into apartments” seeking undocumented people.
What is currently occurring, “is much like what it was before,” Elrich said.
What has changed, he said, is the increase in concern and fear among county residents. He insisted that Montgomery County remains a welcoming community to all residents.
