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Mayor seeks records after ICE agents operate in Berlin, council supports request
Summary
Residents reported ICE activity on March 6 near West and Washington Streets. The mayor said local police did not work in conjunction with ICE and the town was not notified; the council endorsed submitting a DHS records request to clarify the agency’s presence and any detentions.
The mayor told the council that residents informed town officials that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were operating in Berlin near West and Washington Streets on Friday. The mayor said the town was not notified by federal or allied law enforcement agencies, and that Berlin Police Department officers did not operate in conjunction with ICE during the incident.
The mayor said he contacted the governor’s office for information about the presence and asked the council whether they wanted the town to submit a DHS records request to learn what actions ICE took within municipal limits and whether anyone detained could be identified through public information. Council members expressed support for pursuing the request and emphasized a desire for transparency while avoiding partisan framing. One council member described students being frightened and escorted by school officials as evidence the event caused community distress.
Staff said a digital platform exists to submit the request and that other Maryland municipalities have used the same process. The mayor said the request will seek any releasable information about operations in town on the referenced date and time window. The council did not vote on a specific resolution at the meeting but supported preparing and filing the records request during the week following the meeting.
Next steps: staff will submit a DHS information request and return to the council with any releasable information.
