Montgomery County Launches New Portal to Track Immigration Enforcement

Montgomery County officials have introduced a new online reporting portal, designed to allow residents to share information about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities within the community. This initiative, detailed in a recent announcement, aims to enhance the County’s understanding of federal immigration enforcement presence and its impact on residents.

The reporting portal is a key component of two recently enacted laws: the Unmask ICE Act (Bill 5-26) and the County Values Act (Bill 3-26). The Unmask ICE Act mandates that law enforcement agencies operating in Montgomery County refrain from wearing masks or facial coverings while on duty, with specific exceptions for health and safety reasons. This legislation also requires officers to clearly display, and upon request, verbally provide their agency, name, and badge number. The reporting portal is specifically for individuals to report instances of masked ICE agents.

The County Values Act, meanwhile, establishes guidelines for how County departments should respond when federal immigration enforcement encounters occur at County facilities and parking lots. This law is intended to ensure that residents can access County services without fear of federal immigration enforcement activities interfering, and to affirm that County property is utilized for the benefit of its residents rather than for federal enforcement objectives. Reports concerning ICE activity in County parking lots or garages will be directed to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the Montgomery County Department of Police for analysis of operational patterns.

County Executive Marc Elrich stated that the reporting portal will aid in comprehending local events, identifying areas where residents may require assistance, and facilitating the provision of accurate information and resources. He emphasized the County’s commitment to ensuring all residents feel secure and to upholding the trust necessary for strong communities. The announcement highlighted that Montgomery County has a significant foreign-born population, with approximately one-third of its residents born outside the United States, a figure more than double the national average. The County also exhibits considerable linguistic diversity, with nearly half of residents speaking a language other than English at home. Immigrants in Montgomery County come from a wide array of global regions, with notable communities originating from countries such as El Salvador, India, China, Ethiopia, and Mexico. This diversity is further reflected in the more than 150 languages identified by Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery College among their students and families.

County Council President Natali Fani-González characterized the portal as a crucial step in protecting Montgomery County residents from what she described as “ICE lawlessness and overreach.” She noted that the portal directly stems from legislation passed by the Council and expressed gratitude to Councilmember Sidney Katz for his role in the amendment that established this resource. The information submitted through the portal is intended for County tracking purposes only and is not a channel for emergency assistance or individual responses.

The dedicated website, accessible at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/protecting, also offers information on the County’s immigration protections and resources available to those in need. Residents seeking assistance with immigrant support services, including family preparedness materials, Know Your Rights information, and legal support, as well as help with food, housing, and health services, are directed to the Gilchrist Center website or its Information and Referral Line at 240-777-4940. For reporting masked ICE agents, individuals are instructed to complete the form available on the website. The submitted information will be reviewed by the Office of the County Attorney to assess if there is sufficient basis to issue a citation.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Montgomery County Government

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