To protect residents, and particularly immigrant residents, Montgomery County Councilmembers Tuesday introduced legislation demanding federal agents stop wearing masks.
The Unmask ICE Act
The proposed legislation will permit the county to block off parking lots, garages and other vacant spaces where ICE agents have been seen congregating and “kidnapping” residents.
Councilmember Will Jawando sponsored the Unmask ICE Act. He said the bill “would prohibit wearing a mask while dealing with (the) public.” There are a few exceptions, including medical needs, extreme cold and SWAT teams.
“Masks should never be worn to intimidate residents and avoid accountability,” Jawando said, “Safety requires trust and trust requires transparency.”
The County Values Act
Councilmember Kristen Mink was the lead sponsor of the County Values Act, designed to keep federal immigration agents out of areas the county can control, including parking lots, vacant lots and parking garages.
If adopted the county would erect signage and use barricades to block off the areas, she explained. Orange cones and other barriers would be used, Mink noted. “Yes, this in many ways is a lawless federal administration,” and the County Council needs to “draw those lines in the sand.”
She added, “We are not going to consent to ICE.” Mink stressed, “We are not going to allow ICE to use any space that we can legally keep them out of.”
Shortly after the bills were introduced, five Councilmembers spoke at a press conference along with activists and those directly affected by the immigration crackdown.
Personal Stories of ICE interaction
Orchid Dargahi, an English Language Arts teacher at Newport Mill Middle School in Silver Spring, said absenteeism has “noticeably” risen in her classroom and the children speak openly about their fears.
“ICE has robbed children of their mothers and fathers,” she said. Her own cousin’s fiancé from Iran was taken from DarCars in Silver Spring by four agents. He has been detained since June 24, 2025.
Amos Fon, a member of CASA and a native of Cameroon noted that so many people had fled their own countries due to violence and persecution and believed they would be safe in America.
Fear Changes Daily Life
Now, he said, “Fear does not end when we enter the United States.” Immigrants are being treated as threats, not human beings, he added.
People are staying away from churches, stores and even the outside of their homes, he said. “They are staying away because they are scared.”
Jariane Martinez Mapp, a 16-year-old student at Seneca Valley High School, said her friend was detained and dragged on the floor, “because he dared to stand up.” She said at least four Montgomery County Public Schools students have been detained.
“It’s unfortunately needed,” Jawando said of the proposed legislation. He spoke of a man who was walking his dog in Gaithersburg and was taken by ICE and spent 77 days in a detention facility and a 17-year-old Seneca Valley senior whose father was “snatched” from a parking lot in Silver Spring.
‘Not Here, Not Montgomery County’
“We’ve come together today to say, “Not here. Not Montgomery County.” Jawando added, “We’ll get through this together. It won’t be easy. If we get sued, we get sued.”
Councilmember Evan Glass agreed, “If that means going to court, we will go to court.”
Councilmember Kate Stewart said ICE has been in her district around Silver Spring, and she has heard many chilling stories. Holding back tears, she proclaimed, “In Montgomery County, what we are saying is, we are not going to back down.”
Newly appointed Councilmember Shebra Evans agreed. “When we govern, we govern with our values front and center.”
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