Montgomery County is the only county in the Washington area that wouldn’t automatically provide local police protection for federal agents conducting a workplace immigration raid.
In Anne Arundel County, local authorities sent 50 police officers for a recent raid that netted dozens of suspected illegal immigrants last week.
In Loudoun County, police sent two officers, and Prince William County sent four officers to provide support for immigration officials that ranged from traffic control to officer protection during recent immigration raids in their counties.
While Prince George’s County police didn’t respond to calls about their policies, Fairfax and Arlington officials say when federal law enforcement asks for backup or public safety assistance, they provide it if they can.
Not always so in Montgomery.
“Montgomery County police only provide public safety assistance to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] authorities when there is a criminal investigation,” police spokeswoman Lucille Baur said. “We typically would not provide public safety assistance if they are providing strictly an immigration raid — Montgomery County police are not involved in those.”
Baur said the county police would respond “if violence did break out” and noted that she wasnot aware of the county ever being asked to assist in immigration busts.
Last summer, Montgomery County police provided perimeter public safety support to ICE officials who conducted a criminal raid at Wheaton’s El Pollo Rico, where the store owners were eventually convicted of money laundering and conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants — the difference being the criminal charges.
“We don’t want our community members to think Montgomery County police conduct random raids that can result in the deportation of undocumented immigrants,” Baur said, adding that the support of all residents, including illegal immigrants, is necessary to report crime and solve cases.
ICE officials say they customarily notify local jurisdictions when planning a work site raid in a community, and often ask for support, though they do have their own security available.
Notably, ICE’s recent work site raids have all been on friendly ground: The top elected officials in Loudoun, Prince William and Anne Arundel counties have all approved some form of policy designed to discourage illegal immigration.
ICE officials say it’s coincidence.
“It’s definitely important to have the cooperation of local law enforcement,” ICE spokeswoman Ernestine Fobbs said. “But we are not acting on tips based on what county they come from.”
While Montgomery anti-illegal immigration groups fret that their county will become a de facto “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants, local leaders aren’t worried.
“We’ve made it pretty clear that there are limits to the extent to which we are willing to use local taxpayer money to enforce federal immigration law,” said Patrick Lacefield, spokesman for County Executive Ike Leggett. “Part of the problem is that the federal government has not stepped up to the plate. … In the absence of that, local jurisdictions have to make their choices, and we have made ours.”
