Increase presence of immigration enforcement in upper Montgomery County

Immigration enforcement has become a growing source of tension in upper Montgomery County, with the most visible activity so far concentrated in Gaithersburg, even as residents in nearby Germantown and Damascus watch warily for signs it could spread to their communities.

Two people were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the parking lot of Gaithersburg's Bohrer Park Activity Center on July 28, according to the city of Gaithersburg.

One of those detained was a mother of three. Her daughter, Lucia Montiel, a Gaithersburg High School student, spoke at a rally outside City Hall in Gaithersburg on August 7. 

“My parents faced many challenges in their own home land and chose to migrate as a way to choose a better tomorrow,” Montiel said.

Residents have pressed Gaithersburg officials to adopt protections similar to Montgomery County's rules barring ICE activity in county-owned lots and garages, saying communication from the city has been lacking.

“The city allowing for ICE to roam around freely is disgusting … Them trying to ignore the outrage and pretend that nothing happened is extremely disturbing,” Montiel said. 

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman wrote in a statement to The Montgomery Brief that he knows “this is a very difficult time for our residents. I understand the fear and frustration for the community when ICE shows up. I share it.”

But Ashman also wrote that when it comes to immigration enforcement, the state [of Maryland], Montgomery County, and the City of Gaithersburg have very limited tools and options. 

Immigration enforcement in the United States is strictly federal. Under the U.S. Constitution and federal law, the authority to regulate immigration and enforce immigration statutes belongs exclusively to the federal government, operated through the Department of Homeland Security.  

ICE operates under DHS. 

Yet, some residents said the city had not directly addressed their calls for stronger, ICE-specific protections beyond that existing policy.

Countywide, the debate has intensified. 

Montgomery County recently launched an online portal for residents to report ICE sightings, including near shopping centers and neighborhoods. Council President Natali Fani-González said the tool covers reports beyond county property, noting ”people can share when they've spotted agents in a particular neighborhood.”

No specific ICE enforcement actions have been publicly reported in Germantown or Damascus, though both communities fall under the same county policies limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. 

The ACLU of Maryland reported that ICE data retrieved through a Freedom of Information Act request and analyzed by the Prison Policy Initiative show that ICE has detained more than 3,300 Marylanders in 2025, roughly double prior years. 

Homeland Security secretary Markwayne Mullin has vowed to continue the Trump administration’s promise to deport millions of unauthorized immigrants.

Ashman said the City of Gaithersburg has protocols and training in place for staff should immigration enforcement agents show up at city properties. 

“We also have immigration enforcement resources available on the city website for those who are impacted by immigration enforcement actions. We will continue to watch the situation very closely and ensure that the city is doing everything possible to serve our community as best we can,” he wrote.