Montgomery Council Member Claims Firefighters Breached Trust Act in ICE Incident

A Montgomery County Council member has raised concerns that firefighters may have breached the county's Trust Act by cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a rescue operation on the Potomac River. District 7 Council Member Kristin Mink stated that the actions taken by the firefighters were in violation of a local law that prohibits county personnel from voluntarily assisting ICE.

Mink expressed understanding for the firefighters, who were faced with a challenging situation that required quick decision-making amid conflicting county regulations. She emphasized the need for the council to better prepare for such unexpected scenarios to prevent any perception of collaboration with ICE.

“This highlights the need for us to be better prepared for these highly unusual situations,” Mink remarked. “We should have done more to avoid the perception of collaboration with ICE.”

The incident occurred when Park Police, working in conjunction with ICE agents, called for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service to assist after several individuals fled from a vehicle and entered the river. Assistant Chief David Pazos confirmed that the rescue service was prepared to deploy boats when it was determined that no rescue was necessary; all individuals were out of the water.

Despite the presence of ICE agents during the preparation for the rescue, Mink contended that this should not be interpreted as the county collaborating with ICE, nor should residents fear involvement in immigration operations.

Montgomery County Police were also briefly present at the scene, primarily to ensure officer safety and assist if an emergency arose. A spokesperson for the police department clarified that their involvement did not include any actions related to the enforcement of immigration laws.

The immigrant rights group We Are CASA criticized the county's response, arguing that it undermined local protections for immigrants. CASA’s Maryland Organizing Director Alex Vasquez called for a transparent public statement from the county regarding its role in the incident, labeling it an example of local authorities inadvertently participating in immigration enforcement.

County Council President Natali Fani-González supported Mink's call for better communication to reassure the community that county personnel are not assisting ICE. She commended the firefighters for their readiness to aid individuals in distress, regardless of their immigration status.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).