MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — Montgomery County’s new Trust Act, which restricts county agencies’ role in federal immigration enforcement, is drawing renewed attention after fire and rescue crews responded to a water emergency during a federal immigration operation.
On July 22, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue crews were deployed to search for three people in the river while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were conducting an enforcement operation nearby, WUSA9 reported.
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE agents detained two Mexican nationals along the riverbank. A third person remained at large after swimming across the Potomac River. DHS said the three individuals were in the country illegally.
Formally known as the “Promoting Community Trust – Immigrant Protections Act,” the law limits how county personnel, facilities, information and equipment may be used during immigration enforcement operations. Fire and EMS crews still coordinate with law enforcement during rescues connected to police operations.
7News reported that Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink considered the response a technical violation of the Trust Act, although she said crews did the right thing by responding promptly to protect lives. Mink later told WUSA9 that her comments were directed at county leaders and the need to prepare for similar situations.
“What this scenario showed is that it’s going to be very hard to predict what type of circumstances we’re going to be faced with,” Mink said, adding that fire and rescue crews did not know ICE would be on the scene when they got the call and “had to make do with a very difficult situation.”
Fire and rescue officials said crews left the scene after determining no one was in the water.
Following Mink’s comments, the Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1664, sent a letter to Mink reaffirming members’ commitment to service: “Let us be clear, when someone needs help, politics don’t matter. Montgomery County firefighters answer every call with the same compassion, dignity, and professionalism regardless of a person’s beliefs, background, or whom they support.”
The union is calling on Mink to publicly retract her statement and issue an apology to Montgomery County firefighters and paramedics.
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