Residents and council spar after mayor signals support for county 287(g) effort

At the Salisbury City Council meeting on Sept. 22, a mayoral statement that the city would be “supportive” of Wicomico County’s plans involving the federal 287(g) immigration partnership drew strong public reaction and extensive council discussion.

The mayor said the city’s intent was limited: to assist the county in identifying people with administrative or judicial warrants so “we would be in a position to help get them and have ICE deal with that situation.” Council members and the city attorney told the meeting they had not seen a final memorandum of understanding, and city legal staff advised that the city is likely ineligible for the county’s detention‑center 287(g) model because the municipality does not operate a detention facility and because the county is still developing its own plan.

Why it matters: public commenters said the mayor’s statement created fear among immigrant communities and risked undermining trust in local law enforcement; others said removing people…