Federal immigration officers shot a driver during an enforcement operation in Maryland on Christmas Eve, an incident that authorities say unfolded after the man attempted to flee and struck government vehicles. Two people were injured and taken to the hospital, officials confirmed.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers approached a van Wednesday morning in a residential area of Glen Burnie, just south of Baltimore. Agents instructed the driver to shut off the engine during what DHS described as a targeted immigration operation.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the driver refused to comply and instead drove the van toward ICE officers, striking law enforcement vehicles as he attempted to escape. Officers then fired their service weapons, which the department said was done in self-defense.
The driver, identified by DHS as a Portuguese national who allegedly overstayed a visa that expired in 2009, was shot and lost control of the van, crashing between two buildings. The passenger, a man from El Salvador whom DHS said was also in the country illegally, suffered whiplash during the crash. Both men were hospitalized and reported to be in stable condition. ICE officers involved in the incident were not seriously injured, according to DHS.
Investigations Underway
Authorities said multiple investigations are now in progress. The Anne Arundel County Police Department will review the shooting itself, while the FBI will investigate the alleged attempt to harm federal officers, according to county police spokesperson Justin Mulcahy.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore acknowledged the incident in a statement on social media, saying state officials were monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities.
“As information surrounding the incident continues to emerge, we will remain in touch with local officials and stand ready to support the community,” Moore said.
Local leaders have called for transparency. Anne Arundel County Council member Allison Pickard urged investigators to release more details and emphasized the need for accountability and de-escalation in federal operations conducted within local communities.
Broader Tensions Over Immigration Enforcement
The shooting comes amid heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement nationwide, as the Trump administration has expanded federal operations targeting undocumented immigrants. In recent months, several violent incidents involving federal officers have drawn scrutiny and criticism from state and local officials.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman criticized the lack of coordination between federal agents and local law enforcement, warning that such practices increase the risk of violence.
“We have federal law enforcement operating in our jurisdictions without traditional notification of local police and often without identification,” Pittman said in a statement. “That creates dangerous conditions, and we saw the consequences here.”
DHS said the Maryland incident remains under active investigation and declined to comment further until those reviews are completed.
