{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-for-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice-operation-in-frederick", "Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) \u2013 in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump\u2019s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland.\n\nThe lawmakers begin, \u201cAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers conclude.\n\nAmong other questions, the lawmakers go on to ask the following:\n\nPlease provide a detailed description and timeline, with documented evidence such as body camera footage, of the events of the operation.\n\nDoes ICE have a policy that allows the use of vehicles to clear an area of peaceful observers?\n\nDoes that policy allow for ICE to hit observers, or threaten to hit observers, with their vehicles?\n\nWhen an ICE officer informs a legal observer that they have their name, information, and know where they live \u2013 what is the purpose of the officer making that statement?\n\nHow does ICE come to have this information, and for what reasons does ICE use it?\n\nHow did ICE\u2019s use of force in this case align with DHS\u2019s use of force policy?\n\nDuring the operation, video shows ICE entering a home, reportedly in pursuit of a target. Did ICE secure a warrant for the target\u2019s arrest before entering the home?\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella and Inspector General Cuffari,\n\nAs members of Maryland\u2019s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement\u2019s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.\n\nRecently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter.\n\nAdditionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to intimidate local elected officials.\n\nICE has a duty to enforce our immigration laws safely and humanely. Yet, ICE\u2019s operations clearly continue to create chaos and instill fear in our communities. ICE is not making our neighborhoods safer and is not going after the \u201cworst of the worst\u201d as this Administration claims. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s own numbers show that nearly 70% of the individuals arrested as part of its two-week surge operation last month in Maryland and Virginia had no criminal record.\n\nOn behalf of our constituents, we request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE has been and is currently deploying in our state, and we request responses to the following by no later than September 30, 2026.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-for-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice-operation-in-frederick"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.507575321942568, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}