 Thursday, February 6, 2025
Like all of you, I have been alarmed and concerned by decisions being made at the federal level of government that are causing strife and uncertainty in Montgomery County. Many of you have reached out to me directly to share your concerns and I wanted to take a moment to affirm Montgomery County's commitment to respect and safety for all members of our community, regardless of their identity and background.
County agencies currently do not collect the immigration status of individuals seeking or receiving services. Additionally, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) and the Sheriff's Office do not carry out immigration enforcement nor do they ask about immigration status. Immigration enforcement through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal responsibility.
If you require immigration assistance, Montgomery County's Gilchrist Immigrant Resource Center provides information in multiple languages. The center also has information about how to find legal resources and obtain support from County agencies and nonprofit organizations.
During this difficult time, our students are also feeling fear, and I want to reassure everyone that Montgomery County Public Schools has reaffirmed its commitment to safety and security for all students. MCPS will not require families to share their immigration status, and has a dedicated webpage for immigration support.
In light of the federal government rolling back protections for the LGBTQ+ community, I also want to highlight resources provided by Montgomery County Pride and the MoCo Pride Center.
Montgomery County is home to thousands of federal workers who are are currently facing employment uncertainly. Job seekers who are in need of support should familiarize themselves with WorkSource Montgomery, the County's workforce development hub.
In the event that you are a victim of a hate bias incident, please utilize our incident complaint portal to file a report. You may file a report anonymously, and the form is available in multiple languages. If you do not want to file a report online, you may call 311 to file over the phone. To report an MCPS incident, please utilize the MCPS form.
Now more than ever, it is important for all of us to know our rights and to educate others in our community. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has helpful guides that you can browse by issue. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with your rights and share this information with your loved ones.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
***This newsletter is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.***
- If you need immediate support, you can call 988 to connect to a counselor for care.
- The Montgomery County Crisis Center offers free crisis services 24/7, all year. You can seek services by calling 240-777-4000 or visiting the Crisis Center in person at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville. Appointments are not necessary.
- The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) provides additional mental health resources and you can learn more on its website.
- Additional Montgomery County support services are available by dialing 311 or through the Council's community resource page.
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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