Homeland Security Alters Maryland ICE Shooting Story Amid Police Contradiction
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has revised its account of a shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Glen Burnie, Maryland. This incident occurred on December 24, 2025, prompting scrutiny after local police contradicted the initial DHS statement.
Incident Overview
On Christmas Eve, DHS stated that ICE officers “defensively fired” at a van occupied by undocumented immigrants. The initial account claimed the driver, Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, attempted to ram ICE vehicles while fleeing, leading officers to fear for their lives and respond with gunfire.
Contradictory Information
Local police have since clarified that one of the injured individuals was not in the van but was a passenger in an ICE vehicle that was struck during the incident. This key detail was first revealed by the Anne Arundel County Police Department as part of their ongoing investigation.
- Injured Individuals:
- Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins: Driver of the van, shot and wounded.
- Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel: Passenger in ICE vehicle, treated for whiplash.
Details of the Shooting
According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Sousa-Martins refused orders to turn off the engine and attempted to evade officers. McLaughlin stated that the officers fired at Sousa-Martins out of concern for their safety, resulting in an injury.
Subsequent investigations revealed inconsistencies in the accounts of what transpired during the shooting. While DHS indicated the van crashed into a tree, police reports described it as wrecked between two buildings, a detail DHS has not clarified.
Current Status
As of now, Sousa-Martins remains in custody at a detention center in Bowling Green, Virginia, while Serrano-Esquivel is also in ICE custody post-treatment. This incident is part of a broader trend of violent encounters associated with intensified immigration enforcement actions under the former administration.
Broader Implications
The revised narrative comes amidst national scrutiny of DHS following the recent fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, alongside other related incidents. Activists and community members have organized protests, raising issues concerning the escalation of law enforcement tactics in immigration enforcement.
