The Department of Homeland Security rebuts claims from Senator Chris Van Hollen regarding an incident involving an asylum seeker and ICE agents in Baltimore.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to assertions made by Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, regarding an incident in Baltimore involving an asylum seeker. DHS contends that the individual in question is an illegal immigrant who caused a crash while attempting to evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
According to DHS, the man, identified as Ever Omar Alvarenga-Rios, is a Honduran national with a final order of removal dating back to 2018. On Thursday, ICE officers attempted to apprehend Alvarenga-Rios in Baltimore, but he allegedly tried to evade arrest. During a vehicle stop, he reportedly failed to comply with law enforcement directives and drove recklessly through the city.
DHS claims that Alvarenga-Rios “slammed on his brakes,” which resulted in a multi-vehicle collision. Following the crash, he attempted to flee on foot and ignored commands from law enforcement. DHS stated that ICE officers “followed their training and used the minimum amount of force necessary to make the arrest.” As a result of the incident, two ICE officers were injured and subsequently taken to the hospital.
In a statement, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This illegal alien broke our laws, resisted arrest, sent two ICE law enforcement officers to the hospital, and endangered the general public. Thankfully both our officers are expected to make a full recovery.”
Bis also criticized what she referred to as “sanctuary politicians,” suggesting that they encourage illegal immigrants to evade arrest by providing guidance on how to avoid capture. “This dangerous attempt to resist arrest comes after sanctuary politicians have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest by hosting webinars instructing illegal aliens how to avoid being caught,” she said.
In contrast, Senator Van Hollen took to social media to share images of Alvarenga-Rios in a hospital bed, labeling him an “asylum seeker” who was rear-ended by an ICE vehicle while on his way to work. Van Hollen claimed that the man suffered “significant injuries to his head, chest, back, and hands” as a result of the incident.
The Maryland senator also expressed concerns about Alvarenga-Rios’s legal rights, stating that ICE was preventing him from accessing legal counsel while hospitalized. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Van Hollen criticized the actions of ICE under the Trump administration, asserting that they were obstructing Alvarenga-Rios’s ability to meet with attorneys and receive updates on his health condition.
“They have also blocked him from signing a privacy release so my office can make further inquiries,” Van Hollen said. “No matter what the Trump Administration says, the Constitution applies to everyone in the United States.” He emphasized that Alvarenga-Rios has a right to due process and full access to legal representation, suggesting that the administration’s actions indicate a desire to conceal information.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the treatment of asylum seekers in the United States. As the debate continues, both sides remain firm in their positions, reflecting the complexities of immigration policy and enforcement in the current political climate.
For further details, refer to Fox News.