DHS Disputes Van Hollen Account of Baltimore ICE Arrest Crash Involving Honduran With 2018 Removal Order
The Department of Homeland Security told Fox News that Honduran national Ever Omar Alvarenga‑Rios is an illegal immigrant with a final order of removal dating to 2018 and that he caused a multi‑vehicle crash in Baltimore on Thursday while trying to evade arrest by ICE officers, injuring two agents. DHS says that after officers attempted a vehicle stop, Alvarenga allegedly drove recklessly through the city, then "slammed on his brakes," triggering the crash, fled on foot, ignored commands, and was subdued with what the agency calls the minimum force necessary. The statement directly contradicts Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who posted photos of Alvarenga in a hospital bed and described him as an "asylum seeker" rear‑ended by an ICE vehicle on his way to work, while also accusing ICE of denying the man access to attorneys. Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis used the incident to attack "sanctuary politicians" for encouraging illegal immigrants to evade arrest and said their rhetoric endangers migrants, officers and the public. The clash is already feeding polarized online narratives over whether local "sanctuary" messaging is driving resistance to ICE and how often partisan framing of enforcement incidents diverges from federal accounts of what happened on the ground.
📌 Key Facts
- DHS identifies the driver as Ever Omar Alvarenga‑Rios, a Honduran national with a final order of removal from 2018.
- DHS says ICE attempted to arrest him in Baltimore on Thursday, he allegedly drove recklessly, slammed on his brakes causing a multi‑vehicle crash, then fled on foot.
- Two ICE officers were injured and hospitalized; DHS says they used the minimum force necessary to make the arrest.
- Sen. Chris Van Hollen publicly characterized the man as an "asylum seeker" rear‑ended by ICE while driving to work and says he suffered significant injuries and was denied attorney access.
- Acting DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis publicly blamed "sanctuary politicians" for encouraging illegal immigrants to evade arrest.
📊 Relevant Data
Baltimore County was designated as a sanctuary jurisdiction in Maryland in 2025, which limited local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, potentially encouraging evasion of federal immigration arrests.
Baltimore County designated only 'sanctuary' jurisdiction in Maryland, says it's a mistake — Maryland Matters
From FY2015 to FY2024, ICE conducted about 840,000 custodial arrests and 437,000 at-large arrests, with at-large arrests like the one in Baltimore often involving higher risks of evasion and injury.
Escalation of ICE Operations Emboldens St.. — Migration Policy Institute
DHS reported over 180 vehicle attacks on law enforcement since President Trump took office, with ICE facing a 3,300% increase in such attacks during arrests.
DHS Law Enforcement Experienced More Than 180 Vehicle Attacks Since President Trump Took Office — Department of Homeland Security
In Baltimore, the Hispanic population is about 4.2% of the total, with Hondurans comprising a portion alongside Salvadorans (1.63%), Mexicans (1.21%), and Puerto Ricans (0.63%).
Demography of Baltimore, Maryland — Ranger Guard
Migration from Honduras to the US is driven by factors including violence, poverty, climate-related events like droughts and hurricanes, and economic instability, with over 48% of Hondurans living in poverty.
Immigration in Honduras — Association for a More Just Society
The asylum grant rate for Hondurans in the US is approximately 7% as of 2026.
Asylum Approval Rate by Country 2026 — World Population Review
Latinos accounted for nine out of ten ICE arrests during the first six months of 2025, showing a disparity in enforcement targeting by ethnicity.
UCLA Report Finds Latino Arrests by ICE Have Skyrocketed Under the Trump Administration’s Second Term — UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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