On Wednesday, a routine traffic stop just outside Baltimore took a dangerous turn when agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) opened fire on a van driver, who was undocumented, claiming he had attempted to run them over. This resulted in one man being shot and another being hurt during the chaos.
This event marks the second reported shooting incident involving ICE agents this week against undocumented personnel, where a subject was claimed to have attempted to harm agents, but wasn’t actually hit in the earlier case.
Thanks to prompt medical attention, both the driver and another migrant in the van are reportedly in stable condition and on their way to recovery, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
As tensions have risen over the year between federal authorities from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the public during immigration operations, this latest situation underscores the increasing role that automotive clashes are playing in these confrontations.
Details of the Shooting Incident
The scenario unfolded in Glen Burnie, Maryland, during what was described by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin as a targeted immigration crackdown. She explained that ICE officers aimed to halt the activities of two undocumented men identified as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins from Portugal, who was driving, and passenger Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel from El Salvador.
When officers approached their minivan and requested Sousa-Martins to shut off the engine, he instead tried to flee the area, ramming into the ICE vehicles and allegedly charging directly at the agents who feared for their safety.
McLaughlin noted that, concerned for their own lives and the safety of the public, the officers felt compelled to respond by firing their guns, injuring Sousa-Martins in the process. His vehicle ultimately crashed between two buildings, although images shared by the DHS show the van had collided with a tree.
During this crash, Serrano-Esquivel also sustained injuries, McLaughlin stated. Both men were immediately provided medical care at the scene and transferred to local hospitals, with the affirmation that no ICE agents experienced any injuries.
DHS revealed that Sousa-Martins entered the US from Portugal in December 2008 and remained beyond the expiration of his visa in February 2009. Specifics concerning Serrano-Esquivel’s immigration background have yet to be provided.
As of now, details are unknown regarding whether the two men have sought legal representation.
CNN has requested statements from local law enforcement to confirm their response to this incident.
Increase in Car Incidents Related to Immigration Enforcement
In the past year, incidents involving vehicles during immigration enforcement actions across the nation have become increasingly frequent.
“Aggressors are now deliberately steering into officers, boxing them in, and using their vehicles to drive off law enforcement,” noted Emily Covington, ICE Assistant Director of Public Affairs, back in October.
ICE has faced backlash for their own employment of these tactics, including the contentious “precision immobilization technique” (PIT), which deliberately spins a vehicle out of control. Experts warn that such maneuvers can represent a use of lethal force.
A particularly concerning case occurred in October when Marimar Martinez was shot by an officer after being accused of intentionally colliding with a patrol vehicle. A judge later dismissed the charges, highlighting various concerns over the investigative process.
Similarly, instances of violence during traffic stops in places like Chicago, where a man was fatally shot, have sparked public outrage. Accusations of dishonesty during trials from DHS agents have compounded community frustration, creating a climate of distrust.
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