Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained two adults on the campus of a Southeast Baltimore public school Thursday, school and city officials confirmed.
The arrests sparked outrage from city and state leaders, who emphasized that an emergency bill signed in May prohibits ICE from operating in “sensitive locations like public schools.”
The incident, which was captured on video, occurred at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School during a preschool graduation ceremony, school officials said.
Courtesy of Joely Laflaka
Federal agents left the scene afterward. School officials said they are working with local, state and federal agencies to learn more about the detainments. The school continued with scheduled activities.
DHS alleges man “refused lawful commands”
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleges that Jesus Acevedo-Sanchez “refused lawful commands, violently resisted arrest, and used his vehicle to evade law enforcement, dragging an ICE officer in the process.”
DHS said he then took off toward a local elementary school before being taken into custody. The agency also claims this wasn’t Acevedo-Sanchez’s first attempt at evading law enforcement, saying that he caused a collision with an ICE vehicle before driving away in April.
Acevedo faces federal charges for resisting and impeding federal officers and destruction of government property, according to DHS.
A second undocumented immigrant in the vehicle punched officers and is facing charges for assaulting a federal officer, according to DHS.
Officials said the children were given to their aunt.
Maryland Senate president describes arrest
In a video shared to social media, Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson described the incident, saying a family was driving into the school’s parking lot with ICE agents in pursuit.
According to Ferguson, the adults were ripped out of the car as children were screaming in the backseat. Educators brought the children into the school during the incident.
“I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen with the young kids, but we’re gonna make sure they have the resources they need,” Ferguson said.
“Nothing else matters if families don’t feel safe. We will not back down and will continue fighting this lawless administration, especially when that lawlessness threatens kids and families at schools,” he wrote on social media.
Baltimore mayor responds
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also condemned the ICE enforcement action, calling it a “disturbing incident.”
“I will reiterate once again that this type of enforcement is not welcome in Baltimore,” the mayor said in a statement. “The presence of ICE has not made our city any safer, and in fact has led to greater fear and anxiety, especially for our immigrant neighbors.”
Governor calls ICE actions “deeply disturbing”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the video and the incident “deeply disturbing.”
“Schools are places where children should feel safe, where parents should be able to drop off their kids without fear, and where educators should be able to focus on teaching, not where federal agents carry out immigration enforcement actions in front of children,” Moore continued.
The governor said his administration has reached out to ICE to determine why federal officers were on school grounds during drop-off and what actions will happen to make sure it won’t happen again.
“Let me be clear, Maryland will work with federal law enforcement when it makes our communities safer,” Moore said. “But actions that terrorize children, separate families in front of a school, and undermine trust in public institutions do not make us safer.”
Baltimore residents react to detainments
Abby Carpenter, who works as a teacher for another local school, said, “It’s traumatizing not only for the family but the other kids around.”
“It’s a fear I have had for children in my school too,” Carpenter said.
Baltimore residents told CBS News Baltimore that the timing of the detainment was innappropriate.
“What is so unbelievably awful is, this was in the middle of a pre-k ceremony,” Carpenter said. “It’s just crazy to even think about. Who are they protecting?”
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