ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Southern Maryland sheriffs took to Annapolis on Feb. 25 to voice their concerns about legislation restricting how local law enforcement works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The Maryland Legislature passed HB444/SB245 last week, a bill “Prohibiting the State, a unit of local government, a county sheriff, or any agency, officer, employee, or agent of the State or a unit of local government from entering into an immigration enforcement agreement; and requiring the termination of an existing immigration enforcement agreement on or before July 1, 2026.”
This bill ends 287(g) agreements that allow ICE to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight.
This means that ICE will no longer be able to rely on local officers to enforce immigration laws after receiving specific training. The bill does not prohibit local law enforcement from notifying ICE when they have a person of interest in custody or transferring them to ICE custody; however, SB0791/HB1575 also limits law enforcement from taking additional actions to work with ICE.
Sheriffs from across the state joined together at the State House, including Calvert County Sheriff Ricky Cox.
Sheriff Mike Lewis of Wicomico County said, “We’ve made it very clear and I want to make it very clear again. The passage of Senate Bill 245 and any additional legislation does absolutely nothing to abolish ICE from working in our communities. All it’s gonna do is amp ICE up on the streets and go out looking for individuals that we could’ve otherwise transferred safely into their custody at our local detention facilities.”
Lewis said he believes ICE’s actions are legal and constitutional, but having more ICE agents on the streets “kicking down doors” will only increase trauma for kids and family members.
Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli of Worcester County said it was inappropriate for politicians in Annapolis to remove safe communication options for law enforcement departments to work together.
Sheriff Cox shared the following statement with The BayNet via email:
Lawmakers in Annapolis are advancing Senate Bill 660 and Senate Bill 791 legislation that will make Maryland less safe. These bills would eliminate the safe transfer of illegal aliens at detention centers and severely restrict communication and coordination between local law enforcement and federal partners.
If enacted, this legislation will not stop enforcement actions it will simply push them into our neighborhoods. That means more ICE activity in our communities instead of controlled, secure transfers inside detention facilities. It also creates unnecessary risk for deputies, correctional deputies, staff, inmates, and the public.
Let me be clear: public safety is not a political talking point. It is a responsibility. As your Sheriff, I will continue to use every lawful tool available to protect our citizens and uphold the rule of law. I will not support policies that weaken proven law enforcement partnerships or make our communities less secure.
I encourage you to review these bills carefully and make your voice heard with your elected representatives.
The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Clarence Lam, D-District 12, did not immediately respond to The BayNet’s request for comment.
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Which way did Charles County swing?
YOUR LEGILATORS DONT CARE ABOUT YOU. QUIT VOTING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE THAT DONT CARE ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
Work with ice that’s what’s we paying you for
What, you expect our sheriffs to up hold the law? That’s not how Demoncrats see it.
Do you want to turn into Minnesota? Because that’s how you turn into Minnesota.
I’m not paying taxes for my local police to help a gestapo. ICE is out of control and violating the Constitution left and right. If the local cops want to join their dear leader, let them quit and go work for the new SS.
Don’t like the existing laws Fight the Coup? Why don’t you get ‘your’ elected Demoncrat politicians to redo them AGAIN. Obama was doing the same thing and the far left media was as quiet as a church mouse because it fit the wacko far left’s agenda at the time, but they want it stopped now, to keep their gerrymandering going.
All counties should continue working with ice to make all Marylanders safe from harm!
Get those masked, untrained ICE thugs out of Maryland. Our police are perfectly capable of handling any issues. ICE just turns a situation into an even worse situation.
“Our police are perfectly capable of handling any issues. ”
True, just not allowed to, by politicians & judiciary thugs.
You!….CARTOON CHARACTER!!!
This bill will do nothing more than bring MORE ICE officers into the state. That’s because the bill is telling local law enforcement NOT to, in any way, provide aid to ICE officers. That translates to ICE deploying MORE officers to the state. Why is it so hard to understand?
You really don’t get it, do you. The more they work WITH ICE, the fewer ICE agents there will be in the state. By trying to legislate them from working with ICE, the MORE ICE agents will be deployed to the state. Haven’t you been following what’s been happening in Minnesota?