Two individuals were hospitalised on Christmas Eve morning following a dramatic confrontation between federal immigration agents and a van driver in a quiet Maryland suburb, authorities have confirmed.
Christmas Eve Confrontation in Glen Burnie
The incident unfolded in the residential neighbourhood of Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County, shortly before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 24 December 2025. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting a "targeted enforcement operation" when they identified the driver of a van as Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, an undocumented immigrant from Portugal.
A fellow undocumented individual from El Salvador, Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, was in the passenger seat, DHS stated. The agency alleges that the driver refused to comply with officers and attempted to flee the scene.
Van 'Weaponised' Against Federal Agents
In a statement, DHS claimed the situation escalated rapidly. "He then weaponised his vehicle and began ramming his van into several ICE vehicles," the department said. "He then drove his van directly at ICE officers, attempting to run them over."
Fearing for their lives and public safety, the ICE officers "defensively fired their service weapons, striking the driver," the agency added. Sousa-Martins subsequently lost control of the van, crashing it between two buildings and injuring the passenger.
Both men were transported to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore and are reported to be in a stable condition. The ICE officers involved were "not severely injured."
Community Alarm and Ongoing Investigations
The sound of gunfire in the typically peaceful area on Christmas Eve morning caused significant alarm. Local councillor Allison Pickard expressed her concern, noting children were outside at the time.
"It's concerning that there was open gunfire in my community involving ICE agents," Pickard told The Washington Post. "There's a waterfall effect to these things happening, no matter who is involved."
Multiple agencies are now probing the event:
- Anne Arundel County Police will investigate the shooting itself.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will probe the alleged attempt to ram federal agents.
- ICE will conduct an internal review of the actions of its officers.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore acknowledged the incident on social media, stating his office was in touch with local officials and "standing by to provide support for the community."
This event marks at least the ninth shooting incident during federal immigration operations since the Trump administration took office, according to data compiled by gun violence news site The Trace.
