UPDATE: A chaotic raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Glen Burnie, Maryland, turned violent early Wednesday morning, resulting in gunfire and two illegal immigrants hospitalized. The incident unfolded just before noon on December 24, 2025, escalating when the driver of a white van allegedly attempted to ram ICE vehicles, prompting agents to fire shots.
Authorities from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report that the driver was identified as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, a migrant from Portugal. His passenger, Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, entered the U.S. illegally from El Salvador. The incident began when ICE agents approached the van and ordered Sousa-Martins to turn off the engine. Instead, he attempted to flee, reportedly “weaponizing” his vehicle against federal officers.
DHS officials stated that Sousa-Martins drove directly at ICE agents, leading to shots being fired. Sousa-Martins was struck and subsequently crashed the van into a tree located between two buildings, causing injuries to his passenger, Serrano-Esquivel, who suffered whiplash. Both men were transported to a local hospital and are currently in stable condition. Fortunately, no ICE officers were injured during the altercation.
Eyewitness accounts reveal the chaos of the situation. Anne Arundel County Council member Allison Pickard expressed concern over the gunfire occurring in a residential area, especially with children playing nearby. “It’s concerning that there was open gunfire in my community involving ICE agents,” Pickard told The Washington Post. “There’s a waterfall effect to these things happening, no matter who is involved.”
Residents reported that Sousa-Martins was pursued by ICE agents after he allegedly fled from a local Walmart. One resident, James Hicks, described hearing the chase and the eventual crash, noting, “The man shouldn’t have tried to run them over.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has acknowledged the incident via social media, stating that his office is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to support the community. “As information surrounding the incident continues to emerge, we will remain in touch with local officials,” Moore stated.
This incident is part of a troubling trend; there have been at least nine ICE-related shootings since 2017, highlighting escalating tensions during immigration enforcement actions. In a similar case, a high-profile shooting in Chicago involved a woman who was shot five times by a border patrol agent after an alleged confrontation that raised serious questions about the use of force.
The investigation into this latest incident is ongoing, and officials urge anyone with information to come forward. As the community grapples with the aftermath, the implications of this event are likely to resonate well beyond Glen Burnie.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
