EXCLUSIVE: Baltimore ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officials on Thursday arrested eight migrants, including four convicted of child molestation and one murderer, in suburban Maryland.
The arrests happened during an exclusive Fox News ride-along with the government agency.
One of the migrants apprehended was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and exposing himself in public several times. Another migrant, from the Philippines, was previously convicted of molesting a 10-year-old girl.
According to ICE, the one migrant convicted of murder was living in the U.S. on a permanent visa status.
"The people we are out for are the worst of the worst," Baltimore field office Director Matthew Elliston told Fox News' David Spunt. "It's not the average person who is in the country illegally. If we are targeting you, there is a reason."
The goal is simple for the Baltimore ICE Field Office: arrest and then deport as many illegal migrants with criminal records as possible. ICE agents’ goal at the start of the day was to capture eight targets, and all eight targets are now in custody.
Now all eight of those migrants are behind bars and await hearings in front of immigration judges and potential deportation.
According to ICE data obtained by the House Homeland Security Committee in September, there are at least 650,000 criminal illegal immigrants on the agency’s "non-detained docket," meaning they are free in the U.S. interior. Of those, 14,944 are murderers and over 20,000 have been convicted of sexual assault.
Although not officially a sanctuary state, Maryland, which is led by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and a majority Democratic state assembly, is considered immigrant friendly. The city of Baltimore, meanwhile, has an official policy that does not allow law enforcement to ask residents about their immigration status.
ICE data indicates that Baltimore ERO arrested 570 migrants with either a criminal conviction or a pending criminal charge in fiscal year 2024.
Congressional leaders struck a deal to avert a government shutdown that includes a provision stating that the federal government will fully pay for the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The provision also allows the Treasury Department to recoup at least some funds spent through insurance payments, as well as federal and state litigation related to its collapse.
A container ship called the Dali struck part of the Key Bridge in the early hours of March 26.
The incident sent shock waves through both domestic and global supply chains, having blocked a significant amount of shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore for more than two months.
Maryland officials estimated the cost to rebuild the bridge to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion.
The new federal measure is part of a short-term government funding bill to avert a partial shutdown through March 14 to give lawmakers more time to negotiate a spending deal for the remainder of fiscal year 2025.
It is also one of several seemingly unrelated policy measures included in the bill that have angered members of congressional Republicans' rightmost flank, who said they felt largely blindsided by inclusions.
Federal and state Democrats from Maryland, however, praised the Key Bridge's inclusion in the bipartisan deal.
"This has been a nine-month fight to make sure that Baltimore City and Baltimore County are made whole again. And now, we are able to secure the full funding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild which the Congress will vote on in the next 48 hours – this means so much to all of us throughout the state," Rep. Kewisi Mfume, D-Md., said in a statement.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who also praised the provision and criticized House Republicans for objecting to it on Monday, before the final deal was struck.
"House Republicans have not signed off on 100% funding for the Key Bridge. The Senate has signed off on that. But we have not been given a good reason why House Republicans continue to object," Van Hollen told local outlet 11 News. "That is the state of play as we speak."
The short-term spending bill must pass the House and Senate by Friday, Dec. 20 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
The mayor of Maryland’s second-largest city caused a firestorm after announcing his plan seeking the establishment of a taxpayer-funded "legal advocacy fund" to defend immigrants "who may be harmed by policies from the new (Trump) administration."
Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, a Democrat, hearkened back to his ancestors’ arrival from Ireland in saying President-elect Donald Trump’s "first term is prologue" on how he will treat immigrants in announcing an appropriation request to "ensure [immigrants] have the legal support they need to stand strong and remain in this community they have chosen to call home."
"In many regards, this election did not go as I had hoped," said O’Connor, whose city of 86,000 sits halfway between Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
"As many residents know, our city council recently made a decision to provide voting rights to any resident that calls Frederick home, regardless of citizenship status. We will continue to make progress on implementation as it's our responsibility and not take any step that would seek to create division, target vulnerable populations or undermine the trust that we have worked hard to build in our community," O’Connor added.
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee criticized the move, saying O'Connor's "pledge to protect illegal aliens is particularly appalling." He highlighted the case of Walter Javier Martinez, an MS-13 gang member who was sentenced to 70 years for the rape, strangulation and murder of Kayla Hamilton, a young, autistic woman in nearby Harford County. Martinez, who was 17 at the time, had been released to a "sponsor" in Frederick before committing the crime. He pleaded guilty to Hamilton's murder in August.
Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., said public officials at all levels of government have a responsibility to protect their citizens:
"I am confident the incoming Trump administration will disabuse these state and local leaders of the notion they are above federal immigration law."
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins told Fox News Digital that O’Connor’s plan is "totally inappropriate."
"I think he's going to anger the taxpayers. And aside from that, I think it's unfair to the taxpayer," Jenkins said in a Monday interview.
He added there are enough private or non-profit advocacy groups that would front legal fees and such for migrants facing federal action.
Jenkins, whose department is responsible for enforcing laws outside Frederick city proper, predicts the move will invite increased criminal activity to the area under the "false perception" they’ll be protected.
"He’s not going to let the Frederick Police Department cooperate with ICE."
Jenkins praised incoming "border czar" Tom Homan, adding the ICE veteran doesn’t need Frederick city’s blessing to conduct federal operations.
He noted that local and county agencies don’t have jurisdiction to enforce immigration law, but reiterated he is fully supportive of Trump’s and Homan’s general policy plans.
"I am 100% supportive from the standpoint I want to do everything I can to keep my county safe, our citizens safe, reduce crime, remove a criminal element, and let's clean this country up."
In his remarks reported last week, O’Connor cited Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech, in which she said, "Now is the time we must be organized, energized and engaged." He said Frederick would add focusing on upholding the city's values to her sentiment.
Fox News Digital reached out to O’Connor for further comment. Frederick notably hosts both the presidential Camp David retreat in the nearby Catoctin Mountains and the U.S. biological defense headquarters at Fort Detrick.
In his public remarks, O’Connor denied he was making a political message, but instead a "patriotic one."
"While we cannot predict every policy or action this administration may take. We have seen enough to know our path forward here in Frederick is clear. We will be steadfast in ensuring that our city continues to be a place where everyone feels safe, respected and protected."
O’Connor added that the Frederick Police Department — separate from Jenkins’ agency — is "committed to ensuring all residents feel safe in reporting crime and know that they will not be questioned about their immigration status."
"We refuse to aid and abet outside agencies attempting to detain, deport or remove any residents from our community," the mayor said.
Asked for first-hand comment, the FPD said it is committed to building trust and maintaining open lines of communication with all members of our diverse community."
"For years, we have focused solely on enforcing traffic and criminal laws, not immigration laws… Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of federal agencies, not the Frederick Police Department."
In their statement sent to Fox News Digital, the department said it does not inquire about immigration status from residents who need help or are reporting a crime, and it wants everyone in Frederick to feel safe in their interactions with police.
In Anne Arundel County, which includes the capital Annapolis, Democratic County Executive Steuart Pittman suggested similar defenses to O'Connor's for immigrants facing deportation. FOXBaltimore reported Pittman said Anne Arundel will provide services to families of a deported breadwinner.
In Annapolis itself, Gov. Wes Moore told Fox News Digital the U.S. immigration system is broken and that Congress must fix it.
"Federal leaders need to set aside politics and work to ensure that our border is secure and that we have a fair and humane immigration system," he said, adding he comes from a family of immigrants and is "deeply connected to the immigrant story and contributions" of their communities.
Moore addressed "speculation" about how Trump will address immigration policy:
"As governor, I have an obligation to protect Marylanders, including members of our immigrant communities. I take that obligation seriously and will wait to see what actions the new administration takes."
Fox News Digital also reached out to potential Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., and a listed contact for Democratic Rep.-elect April McClain-Delaney, who will represent Frederick in the new term.
Maryland’s Democratic governor tapped one of the world’s largest risk-management firms for a short-term contract in preparation for Republican President-elect Trump moving in next door.
Gov. Wes Moore hired Accenture PLC, an Irish IT and consulting firm with an estimated $60 billion in revenue, to be its eyes and ears on Trump’s return to Washington, D.C.
Two days after Trump was projected to win, Maryland finalized its $190,000 contract.
Consultants at Accenture have been charged with analyzing how Trump and congressional Republicans will affect Maryland, including in terms of federal monies sent across the Anacostia River as the new administration signals a major belt-tightening.
The contract includes a section focused on identifying state "resources and efforts and consider potential avenues for legal challenges."
It also seeks to track Trump’s agenda and his circle’s engagements with third-party groups like the Heritage Foundation, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Moore appeared to acknowledge there will be times Maryland’s interests run counter to the White House’s, but suggested his hiring of Accenture was not to create such an overtly adversarial relationship as critics have suggested.
A spokesman for Moore appeared to dismiss claims the governor is trying to set up a showdown, saying there are four tenets guiding him into a new Trump era: "Defend our constitutional rights, grow our economy, and restore faith in our public servants [and] our institutions, and our democracy."
"Governor Moore is ready to work with the incoming administration to ensure these goals are accomplished, and where there is common ground to be found, he will find it. Not only as a matter of principle – but as a responsibility to the people the Moore-Miller administration represents."
The spokesman said hiring a firm like Accenture is standard practice in business, and that with the "unique role" the federal government plays in Maryland’s economy, it is important to fully understand how best to work with Trump.
"With billions of dollars in potential liabilities for the state, it would be reckless of the Moore-Miller administration to not be prepared for any new policy directions taken by the federal government."
Like Virginia and the District of Columbia itself, Maryland is inextricably linked to the federal government, which also comprises just under 10% of the state’s workforce.
The Old Line State houses several federal agency headquarters. NASA’s Goddard Space Center boasts its own private exit off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the NIH campus sits in Bethesda and the FDA calls Silver Spring home.
Geographically, what remains of the original federal district is also entirely former Maryland territory – as Arlington and Alexandria retroceded to Virginia in 1847.
Fox News Digital reached out for comment from state House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, R-Cumberland.
Buckel told Maryland Matters that the contract is "not in the best interests of any Marylander, particularly under the unified control of our federal government by Republicans," and suggested the contract is ill-timed given Maryland's reported billion-dollar deficit.
D.C. and Virginia have also keyed into sweeping changes the Trump administration could bring to the region.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested a meeting with Trump, according to FOX5DC, while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was – unlike the other two leaders – a prominent Trump backer with few apparent concerns.
"I look forward to having the wind at our backs as opposed to in our faces about everything that we’re doing because we’ve gone from the bottom of job growth to near the top of the country," Youngkin said.
However, in Fairfax County, which, like Maryland’s Prince Georges and Montgomery counties, is home to a high proportion of federal workers, the top municipal leader warned of repercussions.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay told FOX5DC that Fairfax must "prepare to address the potential impacts of the new administration."
He said a second Trump term poses a "risk" and noted Trump has a stated goal of "dismantling government bureaucracy."
A representative for Accenture referred Fox News Digital back to Moore's office.
