ICE agents detain individuals outside Baltimore school during pre-k graduation

Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun on Jun 11, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BALTIMORE — Federal immigration agents detained individuals outside a Southeast Baltimore school during a pre-kindergarten graduation ceremony Thursday, disrupting the event and alarming families and educators.

The operation also drew swift condemnation from Maryland officials, who called the enforcement action near young children “unconscionable” and accused federal authorities of injecting fear into a school community.

Baltimore City Public Schools confirmed to The Baltimore Sun that the incident took place at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School.

“The federal agents have since left, and the situation has concluded,” Sherry Christian, spokesperson for the school district said.

Commodore John Rodgers’ student population is over 45% Hispanic, using 2025 data from the Maryland Report Card. More than a third of students there are multilingual learners.

“While some members of the school community were significantly impacted, students and staff that were not involved remain safe, and the school will continue with scheduled activities today. City Schools is working with local, state and federal agencies to learn more about what happened, but because this is an open investigation, there’s not more to share at this point,” she added.

State Senate President Bill Ferguson called the incident “truly unconscionable and unbelievable” in a statement posted to social media.

“Parents are ripped out of their cars, face bloodied, children in the backseat screaming,” Ferguson said.

“There was an assurance made that there would not be anymore enforcement actions in front of schools in any way,” Ferguson added, after activity about two weeks ago involving Hampstead Hill Academy and Patterson Park Public Charter schools.

_____