ICE claims father detained at Baltimore school evaded agents in April

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement defended its detention of a father and mother on school property in Baltimore on Thursday, saying the man was resisting arrest and had dragged an ICE officer with his vehicle.

Lauren Bis, acting assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement on X posted early Friday morning that Jesus Acevedo Sanchez “refused lawful commands, violently resisted arrest and used his vehicle to evade law enforcement, dragging an ICE officer in the process.”

The statement says Acevedo Sanchez drove to Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School in East Baltimore, where he was detained.

Video of the incident reviewed by The Banner showed ICE agents holding down Acevedo Sanchez, who was on the ground in the bus loop not far from steps leading to the front door of the school building. The school is housed in a temporary location in far East Baltimore while its building is being renovated.

Two of his children were in the car with their mother as well. The video shows a distraught child screaming out the window at law enforcement agents, saying that her father didn’t do anything.Children walked by on their way into school about 7:50 a.m.

City and state officials were quick to condemn the action, which went against promises ICE had made to Maryland education leaders and local school superintendents not to take action on school property.

Thursday’s detention was apparently the first time ICE agents detained individuals on school property in Baltimore since President Donald Trump returned to office last year and initiated a sweeping immigration crackdown.

The ICE statement said that Acevedo Sanchez had attempted to evade law enforcement before. “During a previous ICE encounter in April, he caused a collision with an ICE vehicle before fleeing the scene,” reads the statement.

ICE said Acevedo Sanchez has been charged with resisting and impeding federal law enforcement officers and destruction of government property.

The statement said the mother, who was in the car with Acevedo Sanchez, is facing federal charges for assaulting a federal officer.

An attorney for Acevedo Sanchez could not immediately be reached for comment.

ICE did not say what Acevedo Sanchez’s immigration status is. ICE did not immediately respond to requests from The Banner for more details about the incident.

ICE said an aunt has custody of their children. The statement does not say where the parents are detained.

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