A dramatic confrontation between US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and two illegal immigrants ended with gunfire and a crash in a suburban Maryland neighbourhood on Christmas Eve morning.
Christmas Eve Raid Escalates into Violence
The incident unfolded in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, when ICE officers attempted an enforcement action. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), agents identified the occupants of a white van as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, an illegal migrant from Portugal, and Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, who had entered the US illegally from El Salvador.
Officers approached the vehicle and instructed Sousa-Martins, the driver, to shut off the engine. He allegedly refused and attempted to flee the scene. The DHS stated that Sousa-Martins then "weaponized his vehicle", ramming the van into several ICE vehicles before driving directly at officers in an attempt to run them over.
Shots Fired and Crash into Tree
In response to the perceived threat, ICE officers discharged their firearms, striking Sousa-Martins. Shortly after being shot, he lost control of the van, which careered into a tree situated between two buildings. The violent impact caused whiplash injuries to the passenger, Serrano-Esquivel.
Both men received immediate medical attention at the scene before being transported to a local hospital. Authorities confirmed they were in a stable condition and expected to recover. No ICE officers sustained injuries during the altercation.
Community Reaction and Broader Context of ICE Shootings
The discharge of weapons in a residential area on 24 December alarmed local officials. Anne Arundel Council member Allison Pickard expressed concern, noting that children were outside playing in the neighbourhood at the time. "It’s concerning that there was open gunfire in my community involving ICE agents," Pickard told The Washington Post, highlighting the "waterfall effect" such incidents have on residents.
Local resident James Hicks recounted hearing that ICE had chased a man from a nearby Walmart into the community before the van crashed between two houses. While acknowledging the driver's dangerous actions, the event has stirred local unease.
This incident adds to a record of confrontations involving federal immigration officers. According to data from The Trace, a gun violence database, there have been at least nine ICE-involved shootings in the United States since Donald Trump took office. One notably high-profile case occurred in Chicago, Illinois, in October, where Marimar Martinez was shot five times by a border patrol agent. Federal assault charges against Martinez and another individual, Anthony Santos Ruiz, were later dismissed with prejudice.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore stated on social media that he was aware of the Glen Burnie shooting and that his administration would remain in contact with local officials as the investigation proceeds. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the incident remains under active investigation.
