Maryland Sheriffs Defy New ICE Cooperation Law as Hogan Vows to Ignore State Ban

Former Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan stated Thursday that local law enforcement agencies will disregard a newly enacted state law limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, directly undermining Democratic Governor Wes Moore’s authority.

“All the local law enforcement, obviously, we’re going to ignore that, because we’re required to work with them,” Hogan said during remarks at the Politico Governor’s Summit in Washington, D.C., where he discussed his stance with former Arizona Democrat Governor Janet Napolitano. Moore had appeared on the same stage about an hour earlier.

“When they have violent criminals that they’re holding in jail and ICE wants to detain them, they shouldn’t be left back on the street,” Hogan added.

Maryland Democratic Governor Moore signed emergency legislation Tuesday blocking local law enforcement from entering new agreements with ICE that allow up to 48 hours of detention for noncitizens and serving administrative warrants. The measure also requires existing ICE partnerships to end by July.

Nine Maryland jurisdictions currently participate in such agreements, according to state officials. However, county sheriffs have indicated they will continue collaborating with ICE despite the law.

“No politician or legislative body is going to tell me that I can’t communicate with another law enforcement agency on matters of public safety in my community,” Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees said. “I’m not going to stop.”

Moore stated the state would still coordinate with ICE for “the lawful removal of noncitizen offenders who pose a risk to public safety” following the legislation.

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins criticized the law, saying: “You can put any lipstick you want on it; it’s all political. The Democrats don’t want any cooperation with ICE. They don’t want any enforcement whatsoever.”

Maryland joins a growing number of states led by Democrats that have restricted local partnerships with federal immigration authorities. New Mexico and Maine enacted similar measures this year, following California, Illinois, and Washington.

Hogan also criticized Minnesota’s handling of ICE enforcement activities earlier in the year, calling it “an example of what not to do.”

“They were all on cable news performing,” Hogan said. “The mayor and governor blaming the president, the president blaming the mayor and governor, and yet no one was talking about what was actually going on.”