Baltimore City School officials have refuted allegations from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that they coordinated with the agency during the arrests of two adults at a preschool graduation ceremony.
The arrests occurred at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School and were recorded on video, causing significant backlash from local leaders and residents. Officials pointed out that an emergency bill prohibits ICE from conducting operations in sensitive locations, including public schools.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that one of the arrested individuals, identified as Jesus Acevedo-Sanchez, attempted to evade arrest by driving toward the school. According to court documents, Acevedo-Sanchez, a native of Mexico, is currently detained in Baltimore and has a history of resisting law enforcement.
The second individual allegedly assaulted officers and is facing charges for attacking a federal officer.
ICE’s Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that while ICE does not specifically target schools, they will not allow individuals they deem criminals to hide within educational institutions.
In response, Baltimore City School officials reviewed video footage and accounts from staff and families, expressing skepticism about ICE's portrayal of the events. They clarified that there was no coordination with ICE regarding the arrests.
“ICE has acknowledged that schools should remain places focused on learning and that enforcement actions should not occur on school campuses,” school officials said. “We expect future actions to reflect this commitment consistently.”
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson described the distressing scene, noting that the family was approached by ICE agents as they arrived at the school, with children in the backseat of the vehicle.
Following the incident, the children were placed in the care of their aunt, according to DHS.
Local leaders, including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, condemned the actions of ICE, emphasizing that schools should not be venues for immigration enforcement. Scott called the situation “disturbing,” highlighting its negative impact on student safety and learning environments.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed concern over the incident, stating that while cooperation with federal law enforcement is essential for community safety, actions that instill fear and disrupt families are unacceptable.
City Council members and other officials continue to voice their opposition to ICE's actions, advocating for legislation that ensures sensitive locations remain free from immigration enforcement.
Reported by HarborBeat based on CBS News (source).
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