State law addresses immigration enforcement in Maryland, but there’s a significant missing component. Maryland state lawmakers and the Baltimore City Council passed legislation over the past year to restrict activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. | STATE LAW: Maryland Community Trust Act | CITY LAW: Baltimore Safe Spaces and Communities Act The laws were designed to address ICE agents showing up at schools, medical facilities, libraries, churches and courthouses. WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates has learned that the laws restrict ICE access to these places and limits their interaction with local authorities. But what’s missing is an enforcement mechanism and consequence if ICE ignores the laws. ICE encounter in Baltimore raises questions about effectiveness of local laws Outrage dominated the response Friday to immigration agents arresting two people the day prior on public school property in Southeast Baltimore. The encounter was recorded by bystanders on video that some may consider disturbing. ICE officials identified the man under arrest as Jesus Acevedo-Sanchez, saying agents arrested him after he allegedly refused lawful commands and “violently resisted arrest.” ICE claimed Acevedo-Sanchez used his vehicle to evade law enforcement, dragging an ICE officer in the process. Video below: ICE sends statement to WBAL-TV 11 News (Thursday) Two of his children and their mother were in the car when Acevedo-Sanchez pulled up to Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School to drop them off. ICE officials contend agents arrested the mother for assault after she allegedly punched agents. According to ICE, the children have since been placed in the custody of their aunt. “This is absolutely a horrific incident. It’s abhorring,” Senate President Bill Ferguson told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. “They just don’t care and they will use whatever excuse they can to perform and institute terror. Fear is the objective here. To do this in front of a school, it shows a lack of humanity.” Statement: ‘ICE does not target schools’ In a statement sent Thursday night to WBAL-TV 11 News, Homeland Security Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said: “ICE does not target schools, but we will not allow criminals to hide in our nation’s schools and put the safety of children at risk.” ICE said it did not apologize. “We explained to school officials how the illegal alien violently resisted arrest and fled into the vicinity of the school,” Bis said in the statement. Ferguson, D-District 46, wasn’t buying it. “We have seen this institution be less than forthright and straight up lie when they need to,” Ferguson told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. Maryland House speaker seeks congressional oversight Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk sent a letter to ICE seeking a full accounting of what happened. She is urging Maryland’s congressional delegation to use its oversight authority to prevent incidents like this. “(It’s) deeply concerning to see. As a parent, you never want to see children put in that position. That’s why I opposed giving ICE a blank check and continue to support common sense reforms that are overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-District 2, told WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates. According to ICE, Thursday’s arrest was not Acevedo-Sanchez’s first attempt to evade law enforcement. ICE said he caused a collision with an agent’s vehicle before fleeing during an encounter in April. City Schools releases new statement after ICE responds On Friday morning, Baltimore City Public Schools sent a new statement to WBAL-TV 11 News in response to claims by ICE, saying: “Based on the video we have reviewed and firsthand accounts from staff and families, we have questions about ICE’s characterization of events. Significantly, Baltimore City Public Schools did not coordinate with ICE during Thursday’s incident at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School. Thankfully at the time, staff acted quickly and courageously to move children to safety during the incident, and we commend their swift response. “ICE has acknowledged that schools should remain places focused on learning and that enforcement actions should not occur on school campuses. We welcome that commitment and expect future actions to reflect it consistently.” READ MORE:Maryland laws on ICE activity lack enforcement component CHECK OUT WBAL:Get all the latest Baltimore news, weather and sports. WBAL-TV brings you the best in Maryland news online, anytime.