Maryland Communities Report ICE Sightings That Turn Out to Be Local Police Operations, Prompting Policy Responses
Police activity in Owings Mills sparks online claims of immigration enforcement presence
Residents in parts of Maryland are reporting heightened anxiety after local police activity was mistaken for federal immigration enforcement, fueling online speculation and prompting responses from school leaders and elected officials.
In Baltimore County, a video posted online early Wednesday, February 18, 2026, claimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were operating near New Town Plaza in Owings Mills shortly after 4 a.m. Baltimore County Police later confirmed the activity involved county officers serving a search warrant in the area, and not federal immigration agents. Federal officials also stated that ICE personnel were not operating there at that time.
The activity occurred near Groffs Mill Drive, close to New Town High School and New Town Elementary School. In a message to families, the high school principal stated that ICE had not visited either campus and that the school day would proceed normally.
A second recent incident highlights risks of confusion during undercover or tactical operations
The Owings Mills episode followed a separate controversy in Howard County in late January, when a county council member posted on social media warning of possible ICE activity in Columbia. Howard County Police later said the visible law enforcement presence was tied to an undercover operation. The county’s police union criticized the public warning as endangering officers and compromising enforcement activity, while the council member defended the post as a community safety alert amid heightened concern about federal actions.
Together, the incidents illustrate how quickly incomplete information can spread and how residents may interpret late-night or early-morning police operations—especially when officers use unmarked vehicles or wear tactical clothing—through the lens of immigration enforcement.
Local and state policy actions aim to clarify boundaries with federal immigration enforcement
In Baltimore County, the County Council has recently advanced multiple measures aimed at defining how county government interacts with federal immigration authorities. On February 3, 2026, the council passed two bills intended to increase protections for immigrant communities, including legislation to establish an Office of Immigrant Affairs and to restrict county employees and agencies from assisting ICE with civil immigration enforcement except where required by law.
On February 17, 2026, the council also passed an emergency bill prohibiting private detention facilities in the county after learning of a federal lease of office space in Cockeysville. County officials described the measure as an effort to prevent private detention operations from being established locally.
At the state level, Maryland has moved to limit formal local-law-enforcement participation in federal immigration enforcement partnerships. On February 17, 2026, Gov. Wes Moore signed emergency legislation prohibiting local law enforcement agencies from taking part in ICE’s 287(g) program, which allows local agencies to assist with certain federal immigration enforcement functions.
What residents can expect during future reports of suspected ICE activity
Local police departments may conduct operations at unusual hours as part of criminal investigations, including warrant service and undercover actions.
School and local government leaders may issue rapid communications when rumors involve campuses or public facilities.
Elected officials and law enforcement agencies are increasingly balancing public notification with operational security, especially when misinformation could place officers or civilians at risk.
Community leaders across multiple jurisdictions have framed the immediate challenge as distinguishing routine or investigative police work from federal immigration enforcement in a climate of heightened public sensitivity.