Opposing groups rally over immigration policy in Montgomery County
ROCKVILLE, Md. - Groups protesting Montgomery County's immigration policies, as well as immigration advocacy groups, are holding rallies in Rockville Friday.
Members of Help Save Maryland, whose members support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and members of Montgomery County Stands with Immigrants, a group that advocates for immigrant rights.
Police kept both groups separate during the rally. FOX 5's Paul Wagner estimated that several hundred people attended in support of each of the groups.
Montgomery County Council members say President Trump, the White House, and conservative news outlets are spreading false information about the county and how it deals with ICE and illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
In an open letter to county residents, the council said: "these individuals and organizations should be ashamed for spreading false information seeking to establish baseless, illogical and xenophobic connection between a person's failure to obtain legal status and their propensity to commit a sex crime."
Over the past six weeks, as many as seven illegal immigrants, have been charged with rape in the county. Five are being detained and two have been released on bond by county judges.
Part of the controversy involves County Executive Marc Elrich's executive order that prohibits all executive-branch departments in the county from assisting federal agents in civil immigration investigations, an order that also blocks ICE agents from no public spaces in government buildings unless they have a court order or criminal warrant.
Over the past six weeks, as many as seven illegal immigrants, have been charged with rape in the county. Five are being detained and two have been released on bond by county judges.
Part of the controversy involves County Executive Marc Elrich's executive order that prohibits all executive-branch departments in the county from assisting federal agents in civil immigration investigations, an order that also blocks ICE agents from no public spaces in government buildings unless they have a court order or criminal warrant.
On Friday, Elrich told FOX 5's Paul Wagner that he met with ICE officials this past week. Elrich said that while they can work together on human trafficking, he othertherwise stuck to his policies.
In addition, Elrich said they are working on tweaking a policy that keeps ICE agents out of secure sections of the jail. He said that they are working to find a way for ICE to get that secure place.