Baltimore, MD – According to Baltimore Sun, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed two emergency bills into law on Tuesday, prohibiting local formal cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through 287(g) agreements. This legislation, which took effect immediately, marked the first bill enacted during the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session.
The signing ceremony highlighted the state’s commitment to protecting immigrants amid heightened federal immigration enforcement under the Trump-Vance administration. “We will continue to coordinate on shared public safety priorities, including the lawful removal of non-citizen offenders who pose a risk to the public,” Moore stated. He emphasized that the measure directs ICE to target violent criminals rather than broader populations, drawing a clear line on constitutional rights and policing standards.
Joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Senate President Bill Ferguson, and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Moore underscored Maryland’s refusal to deputize local officers under federal agencies lacking equivalent standards. Ferguson described the action as a “first and continuing step” in safeguarding residents. In parallel, the Senate advanced a bill barring law enforcement from wearing masks on duty, responding to criticisms of ICE practices, though it awaits House approval.
Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Jason Buckel and House Minority Whip Jesse Pippy, decried the bills as “political theater” that hinders law enforcement cooperation and public safety. They argued the measures erect unnecessary barriers between agencies. Following the signing, Moore issued three directives permitting state and local entities to collaborate with federal authorities on criminal matters and immigration detainers, a move political scientists viewed as a balanced approach to immigration policy.
The bills passed along party lines two weeks prior, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing. They ban formal pacts enabling local jails to transfer individuals suspected of lacking legal status to ICE. Previously, eight Maryland county sheriff’s offices and the Wicomico County Corrections Center participated in such programs. Three counties—Cecil, Frederick, and Harford—employed the jail enforcement model, screening bookings for immigration status. Six others—Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Washington, and Wicomico—used the warrant model, notifying ICE only for active warrants, all initiated during President Trump’s second term.
Advocacy group We Are CASA rallied outside the State House in support, attended by over a dozen advocates, immigrants, and Democratic lawmakers like Ferguson and Peña-Melnyk. Ferguson affirmed, “In the state of Maryland, we will put a wall around every Marylander… Immigrants are the community of Maryland, and we are here to do whatever it takes to protect them.”
Sheriffs from affected counties testified against the bills, contending that 287(g) agreements confine federal actions to jails rather than communities. Several indicated plans to persist in ICE collaboration informally and explore legal challenges. Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins called it “the wrong legislation,” prioritizing criminals over public safety.
Democrats countered that these agreements ensnare individuals for minor offenses, deter immigrants from engaging law enforcement, and implicate Maryland in national crackdowns. The session’s start featured controversies, including the Department of Homeland Security’s January purchase of a Washington County warehouse for detention and a failed Howard County lease. A viral video exposed overcrowding at Baltimore’s ICE office, prompting congressional tours. In December, ICE gunfire in Glen Burnie injured two—one shot in a van, another in a resulting crash—exemplifying escalating tensions.
A Baltimore Sun reader poll conducted Tuesday evening revealed approximately 70% opposition to banning 287(g) agreements, though the unscientific survey relies on voluntary website user input, excluding excessive votes from single IP addresses for fairness.
This development reflects Maryland’s ongoing navigation of immigration policy amid federal shifts, prioritizing community trust and rights while addressing safety concerns. As the legislative session progresses, further debates on related issues are anticipated. For more information, visit Baltimore Sun.