Montgomery County Council president announces immigrant-protection website

Montgomery County Council President Natalie Fani Gonzalez announced a new county webpage, montgomerycountymd.gov/protecting, intended to centralize the county’s immigrant-protection efforts and resources. "We have finally released a website called montgomerycountymd.gov/protecting," Gonzalez said, explaining the site compiles the bills the county has passed and provides contact information for people who have been victims of ICE.

The site, Gonzalez said, also includes a reporting tool that allows users to upload photos and information if they observe ICE activity on county property. "Part of this website is a link where you can actually upload photos and information if you see agents wearing a mask, which is prohibited in Montgomery County," she said, identifying the mask prohibition and the upload feature as key protections the page highlights. Gonzalez specified that the reporting scope includes county property "that includes parking lots."

Gonzalez framed the launch as part of ongoing county efforts to make Montgomery County "safe and welcoming for our immigrant community," and asked for public cooperation in supporting those efforts. "We're in this together and we're hoping that with your cooperation, we're gonna continue making sure that Montgomery County feels safe and welcoming for our immigrant community," she said. She closed by thanking the community "for the partnership."