Maryland Sheriffs Defy New Immigration Law, Warn of ‘Public Safety Chaos’

Maryland sheriffs have said they will continue working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite a new law that would ban official agreements between local law enforcement and the federal agency.

Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, is expected to sign the law banning 287(g) agreements after it was passed Thursday by the Maryland General Assembly.

“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.”

Sheriffs in Maryland jurisdictions that have 287(g) agreements said they will comply with the bill but plan to continue communicating and working with ICE, with some considering legal challenges.

“This is all political,” Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said.

“You can put any lipstick you want on it; it’s all political,” Jenkins added. “The Democrats don’t want any cooperation with ICE. They don’t want any enforcement whatsoever.”

The counties that have 287(g) agreements are Allegany, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s, Washington, and Wicomico.

Cecil, Frederick, and Harford counties authorize corrections officers to screen detainees for immigration status and contact ICE if individuals are in the United States illegally.

The other counties with 287(g) agreements cooperate with ICE only when there is an active Department of Homeland Security warrant.

Jenkins warned that the new law will increase crime in Maryland.

“There will be protections here for them, so I think you’re going to see an influx of criminals, people with criminal intent, maybe criminal gangs, transnational criminal gangs,” Jenkins said.

DeWees warned that Carroll County will face “public safety chaos” once the agreement is signed.

“Like we’re seeing in Minneapolis,” DeWees said. “ICE is going to be up here searching for them in the community.”

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said making an enemy out of law enforcement is “insane,” noting a lack of communication between law enforcement partners preceded the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“And yet, we didn’t learn from it. We’re doubling down,” Gahler said. “It is completely insane that we would not coordinate for public safety purposes.”

Jenkins and Gahler said their counties will provide arrest sheets to ICE daily and continue immigration detainers.

DeWees stated he would continue notifying ICE when someone released from jail in his county without legal permission to be in the United States.