In Montgomery County, the Takoma Park and Silver Spring areas have been targeted most frequently by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other federal agents.
Cars with Texas and Florida license plates have been observed in the area. That’s what Earl Stoddard, County Assistant Chief Administrator, told MCM. “Their goal is to be observed” and “cause fear and panic,” he said.
Baltimore ICE Office Reacts
The state has two ICE offices tasked with ERO – Enforcement and Removal Operations. The main office sits in Baltimore. A sub office is located on the Eastern Shore in Salisbury.
When residents notify the county about these sightings, Stoddard said he contacts the Baltimore field ICE office and most frequently is told its officers were not involved.
However, he said, he expects ICE activity in the county will heat up soon as the Baltimore ICE office is due to receive “massive resources” from the federal government.
ICE Updates Delayed
Stoddard could not say how many people have been arrested, noting “The data is skewed and delayed.” When told of a person who was arrested, the county cannot find any information right away. “It takes days, weeks, for names to show up,” he said.
Information on ICE’s website has not been updated since the federal government shutdown. “[T]his website will not be actively managed. This website was last updated on September 30, 2025, and will not be updated until after funding is enacted,” the website states.
County Executive’s Warning
Last month, County Executive Marc Elrich warned of increased ICE activity due to more federal government funding. During his media briefing, Elrich said, “We know that a lot of these folks are here and they’re not documented, they’re not sufficiently documented, and if the President assembles the deportation army that he’s trying to assemble and they start using it and deploying it, we stand to lose a lot of workers out of our community, and it’s going to be very, very destabilizing.”
According to Elrich, “The City of Takoma Park can confirm that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity occurred in the area of Carroll Avenue and Boyd Avenue during the morning hours of July 9, 2025. Several individuals were taken into custody by ICE agents at that location.”
