By Adam Pagnucco.
Recently, reports have been circulating in social media about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Montgomery County. Most of these reports have not been confirmed. However, the principal of Eastern Middle School in Silver Spring did confirm an ICE apprehension of two individuals near her school on Wednesday. She sent two letters to her community which are reprinted below.
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September 10, 2025
Dear Eastern Community:
I am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred today in the surrounding community. Two individuals were pursued and apprehended by law enforcement officers near our school. At no time were our students in danger. Our security team worked quickly and effectively; the matter remained off school grounds.
The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. To support any students or staff who may be experiencing emotional impact from this event, we have dedicated our counseling team to provide care and assistance throughout the day.
We also want to remind you of the safety measures already in place at Eastern Middle School. Families and all visitors are required to identify themselves before being granted entry into the main office, and we continue to maintain and strengthen security practices across our school. These proactive steps, along with our staff’s vigilance, help us create the safe, supportive environment our children deserve.
We understand that events in the community can feel unsettling, and we want you to know that we are here for you. Our entire school team is committed to the safety, security, and emotional well-being of every student and family.
Thank you for your trust and partnership as we continue to work together to keep Eastern a safe and caring place for learning and growth.
Sincerely,
Lisa N. Shorts
Principal
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September 11, 2025
Dear Eastern Community:
I am writing to provide an update about yesterday’s incident that occurred in the surrounding community, when two individuals were pursued and apprehended by law enforcement officers near our school.
We have received confirmation that this incident was part of an ICE enforcement effort. It was reported that the targeted individuals attempted to flee and ran toward the school when they were arrested.
We recognize that this situation may have created fear, stress, and uncertainty for many in our community. Please know that we are responding with care and attention to the emotional well-being of our students, staff, and families. Our counselors are available and dedicated to providing support, and we encourage you to reach out if you or your child would benefit from additional care.
We are deeply sorry for the disruption and concern this situation has caused within our community. Please know that our highest priority is the well-being of our students. We are committed to ensuring that our school remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive place for every child and family. As always, we will continue to stand alongside you and work together to provide the care, stability, and encouragement our children need to thrive.
Sincerely,
Lisa N. Shorts
Principal
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Yesterday, Council Member Kristin Mink, whose district is adjacent to the school, released this statement on Facebook.
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STATEMENT ON ICE ACTIVITY IN FRONT OF EASTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL—
I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the actions federal agents took in front of Eastern Middle School yesterday during morning drop-off. Just after 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10th, as students were arriving at school, masked ICE agents pulled a vehicle over out front and then chased down, tackled, and took away the two occupants in handcuffs as horrified children, caregivers, and school staff watched.
One Eastern MS parent shared the following:
“I witnessed this event unfold with my 11 year old daughter sitting right beside me in our car as I waited to drop her at school. To say it was upsetting is an understatement. It was horrifying. Two heavily armed, masked men without any clear markings on their person or car chased on foot two unarmed, innocent (that’s still the standard in the USA, I assume) men who were clearly on their way to work through a crowd of students and parents…
“The two men were detained somewhere off school property but then the unidentified masked men walked the handcuffed men past all the kids walking to school on the sidewalk right beside the school. If the point of the mission was to scare immigrants and terrorize children, then their mission was accomplished.”
We cannot, must not, and will not normalize an event like this, which leaves marks on the souls of not only those having loved ones violently ripped from them, but on those who witness it. Especially children. Especially those who know their loved ones may be at risk of being kidnapped in such a manner.
The so-called immigration enforcement carried out by this federal administration was never about keeping us safe. These systemic attacks on the bodies and souls of our community make residents of color afraid to go to work, to run errands, and now, to go to school.
It is incumbent on each of us, each in the roles and capacities we have at our disposal, to use every legal tool available to protect our community. School and government leadership must work with staff to ensure deep knowledge of strong safety and community care protocols at every school and County facility. Community members can join community-led trainings to learn how to help protect themselves and their neighbors from ICE, build out community safety nets, and organize to be a comforting and protective presence during school arrivals and departures and events like Back To School Nights.
Just last night, I hosted my third in an ongoing series of info sessions for MCPS employees with the partnership of MCEA, SEIU Local 500, and MCAAP, on protecting students and schools from ICE. Last night’s session was an ICE response training led by the Montgomery County Immigrant Rights Coalition (MoCo IRC) and Students For Asylum and Immigration Reform (Students F.A.I.R.). It was attended by hundreds of administrators, paraeducators, teachers, bus drivers, maintenance workers, and more. It’s clear to me that the people we entrust with our children’ s care each school day are deeply invested in meeting this moment with fortitude.
Together, we do have tools to slow ICE down and protect each other, and to make clear that in Montgomery County, we stand with our neighbors in both words and actions — against those who attempt to terrorize them.
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I have asked ICE’s Baltimore field office for details about the two individuals mentioned in the principal’s letter and the reason for their apprehension. If the office sends a response, I will print it.