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Elrich: county limited in responding to ICE operation on Clara Barton Parkway; officials will monitor and support families
Summary
Reporter Paul Wagner asked County Executive Mark Elrich about an ICE operation on Clara Barton Parkway that resulted in two arrests and one person still outstanding; Elrich said the county lacks authority to stop federal enforcement but will try to support affected families and observe for rights violations.
Reporter Paul Wagner asked about an ICE operation on the Clara Barton Parkway in which several men fled and two were taken into custody. Mark Elrich said the county has seen federal enforcement on that federal land before but described the instance as "a little bit more dramatic." He raised questions about whether people were targeted and criticized the broader federal approach: "It's just another dark chapter in the work that Donald Trump does," Elrich said.
Elrich was clear about the county’s legal limits: "We don't have the ability, and even the legislation we passed has no ability to protect people," he said, adding that Montgomery County can observe federal operations and, where warranted, file cases or provide family support. "What we do have the ability to do is to observe and make sure that they violate as few human rights as possible. And if need be, file cases if we have... a reason for us to file cases," Elrich said.
He said county staff will try to determine whether those detained have county ties and what support their families might need, but reiterated that local authorities cannot interpose themselves in federal immigration enforcement on federal property.
