09/13/2026
On September 4th, ICE arrived in force in the Taskers Chance neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland, staking out a residence in pursuit of a man the agency described as a criminal who had fled a vehicle stop.
Federal agents remained in the neighborhood for roughly 40 hours. About 200 community members gathered to monitor the operation, singing and holding signs. Protesters formed human chains and linked arms in front of the targeted home. Frederick City Council President César Díaz and Vice President Katie Nash were both on the scene and confirmed the protesters were peaceful and non-violent throughout.
Video obtained by the grassroots group Hagerstown Rapid Response shows ICE agents driving vehicles onto sidewalks toward members of the public and striking protesters on the ground with batons.
One witness described the scene as agents ‘terrorizing people.’ After 40 hours, ICE left the neighborhood without detaining anyone inside the home.
Under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, federal agents cannot enter a private home without either a warrant or the homeowner's consent. When Frederick police officers on the scene asked ICE whether they had a warrant, ICE agents refused to answer.
Maryland state delegates and Frederick city officials are calling for a full independent investigation into ICE's use of force. The Maryland Attorney General's office declined to comment. ICE and DHS did not respond to any requests for comment. Del. Kris Fair, whose district includes the neighborhood, said he watched the video footage of what he called ICE's ‘erratic behavior’ and wants an investigation into whether anyone's civil rights were violated.
We’ve seen this kind of excessive force from ICE over and over. ICE has driven vehicles onto sidewalks, refused to disclose warrants, used force against community observers, and left without making arrests in multiple operations across the country this year. The people being beaten on camera in Frederick were not even suspects, but residents and local officials standing in their own neighborhood.
