On Christmas Eve in Glen Burnie, Maryland, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in a shooting incident that left two individuals injured. According to officials, the incident occurred around 10:50 a.m. while ICE agents were conducting an enforcement operation in the area.
The sequence of events began when agents approached a white van, which they alleged was driven by Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, an illegal alien from Portugal. Reports indicate that Sousa-Martins refused to comply with orders to turn off the vehicle and instead attempted to flee, allegedly ramming the van into several ICE vehicles and threatening the agents. In response, ICE agents opened fire, striking Sousa-Martins and injuring a passenger, Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, an illegal alien from El Salvador. The van eventually crashed into a wooded area.
Both individuals were transported to a local hospital, where Sousa-Martins was reported to be in stable condition, while the passenger sustained minor injuries. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that ICE officers rendered medical aid before the injured were taken to the hospital.
This incident has prompted multiple investigations. The Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is reviewing the shooting, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is looking into the alleged assault on the federal agents. Additionally, ICE will conduct its own internal investigation through its Office of Professional Responsibility.
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad clarified that local police were not involved in the incident. Further details regarding the ongoing investigations have yet to be released.