A quiet rebellion is brewing in Maryland, challenging the state’s newly enacted laws regarding immigration enforcement. Despite a recent decision by Governor Wes Moore to end cooperative agreements between local law enforcement and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), several county sheriffs are determined to maintain a working relationship with the agency.
The core of the dispute lies in the dismantling of “287(g)” programs – long-standing partnerships allowing local officers to enforce federal immigration law. Nine counties, including Frederick, Wicomico, and Harford, are signaling their intent to circumvent the new restrictions, finding alternative methods to collaborate with ICE.
Sheriff Charles Jenkins of Frederick County, whose jurisdiction boasts the nation’s longest-running 287(g) program, explained the strategy. His office intends to continue honoring ICE detainers, notifying the agency of impending releases, and even providing arrestee lists for review – all without formally being part of the now-banned program.
Over the past 18 years, the Frederick County program alone has led to the transfer of approximately 1,890 individuals to ICE custody. This history underscores the sheriffs’ deep-seated belief in the importance of collaboration, and their reluctance to abandon a system they view as vital to public safety.
Jenkins voiced concern that the new legislation, driven by national perceptions of ICE’s actions, will ultimately backfire. He predicts a shift in enforcement tactics, with ICE agents increasingly forced to make arrests in communities rather than within the controlled environment of local jails.
This potential shift raises the specter of heightened tensions between federal authorities and citizens critical of ICE’s deportation practices. The sheriffs fear that releasing individuals who might otherwise be turned over to ICE will create a more volatile and unpredictable situation.
Requests for comment directed to Governor Moore’s office yielded no direct response. A representative instead pointed to a statement from the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, acknowledging that the new law doesn’t entirely preclude communication with ICE regarding individuals of interest.
However, the situation is poised to become even more restrictive. Maryland lawmakers are preparing to introduce further legislation next week, potentially criminalizing the very “workarounds” currently being explored by the defiant sheriffs, escalating the conflict between state and local authorities.
