On Christmas Eve 2025 in Glen Burnie, Maryland, ICE agents conducting an immigration enforcement operation approached a van occupied by two illegal immigrants, one the driver, Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, originally from Portugal, and the other a passenger, Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel. When ordered to turn off the engine, Sousa-Martins allegedly refused, rammed ICE vehicles, and drove toward agents in an attempt to run them over.
Responding, ICE agents fired defensively, striking the driver. The van crashed, injuring the passenger. Both men were hospitalized in stable condition, and agents provided aid. Multiple investigations into the shooting are ongoing. DHS criticized anti-ICE rhetoric for fueling violence against officers.
In a statement describing the incident, the Department of Homeland Security issued an official statement about the attack. “Fearing for their lives and public safety, the ICE officers defensively fired their service weapons, striking the driver,’ the DHS noted.
Offering more context, the same source noted, “Sousa-Martins then wrecked his van between two buildings, injuring the passenger,” adding, “Our brave officers are risking their lives every day to keep American communities safe by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our streets. Continued efforts to encourage illegal aliens and violent agitators to actively resist ICE will only lead to more violent incidents. The extremist rhetoric must stop.”
Local law enforcement distances itself from the incident. Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad, declared that his officers were uninvolved, saying, “No Anne Arundel resources were involved in this incident, nor were they present.”
Adding much-needed context, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin explained, “He started ramming ICE vehicles and ‘then drove his van directly at ICE officers’ as ‘it appeared he was trying to run them over.’ … Fearing for their lives and public safety, (officers) defensively fired their service weapons, striking the driver.”
In another media appearance, she continued, “The driver refused to turn off the engine and ‘drove his van directly at ICE officers,’ hitting ICE vehicles as he tried to flee. … The agents fired their service weapons at the driver in self-defense.”
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Attacking ICE in a cynical political move, Anne Arundel County Council member Allison Pickard whined, “It’s concerning that there was open gunfire in my community involving ICE agents. … There’s a waterfall effect to these things happening, no matter who is involved.”
Similarly, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, issued a statement. “I am aware of the ICE-involved shooting that occurred earlier today in Glen Burnie. As information surrounding the incident continues to emerge, we will remain in touch with local officials and are standing by to provide support for the community,” he said.
McLaughlin blasted these dishonorable Democrats. “This incident, which is still under investigation, comes as the extremist anti-ICE rhetoric and outright lies of politicians, the news media, activists, and violent agitators continue to fuel a more than 1,150% increase in assaults against ICE officers,” she noted.
Concluding her comments, she added, “Our brave officers are risking their lives every day to keep American communities safe by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our streets. Continued efforts to encourage illegal aliens and violent agitators to actively resist ICE will only lead to more violent incidents. The extremist rhetoric must stop.”
Watch Tom Homan blame the Democrats for their rhetoric, which he says has led to attacks on ICE agents: