Montgomery County residents can now file anonymous reports when they witness immigration enforcement activity that may violate county law.

The county has launched an online ICE Reporting Portal, officials announced at a Wednesday media briefing with County Executive Marc Elrich. The portal lets residents document potential violations of five local laws that regulate how federal immigration agents operate within county boundaries.

Earl Stoddard, the county's assistant chief administrative officer, said reports of ICE agents wearing masks will go to the Office of the County Attorney for review. But he cautioned that citations are a long shot.

"Obviously that bar is quite high," Stoddard said. "We do not anticipate that happening in all or potentially even many cases."

Reports about ICE staging locations follow a different path. Those go to the Montgomery County Police Department and the county's transportation department, which will analyze patterns to identify where agents routinely gather. Based on that analysis, the county may add signage or install fencing and gates at those spots.

What the five laws cover

The portal tracks potential violations of:

  • Unmask ICE Act — prohibits law enforcement from wearing masks or facial coverings while on duty in the county, with some exceptions
  • County Values Act — bars immigration enforcement in county-owned or county-controlled parking lots and garages
  • Trust Act — ensures residents can use county services regardless of immigration status (signed February 2026)
  • ICE Out Act — prohibits permits for privately owned detention facilities in the county
  • Vehicle Recovery Act — requires towing companies to accept broader documentation to release a towed car

What the portal does not do

The county's official page makes clear: submissions are for tracking purposes only. The portal is not a way to get emergency help or an individual response.

Residents who need immediate assistance during an ICE encounter should call 911. The county also directs people to the Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center at 240-777-4940 or CASA's Rapid Response Hotline at 1-888-214-6016.

Why it matters locally

More than 30% of Montgomery County residents are immigrants, according to the county. The Vera Institute of Justice puts the figure at roughly 352,800 people, or 33% of the county's population. An estimated 241,200 immigrant workers make up 41% of the local labor force.

Residents can submit reports at montgomerycountymd.gov/protecting.