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House passes measure curbing county participation in some ICE notification agreements
Summary
Annapolis, March 7, 2025 — The Maryland House passed a bill narrowing circumstances in which county jails must notify federal immigration authorities, while preserving notification requirements for specified serious offenses.
Annapolis, March 7, 2025 — The Maryland House passed a compromise measure addressing county cooperation with federal immigration authorities and the so‑called 287(g)‑style agreements.
The bill establishes a narrower set of circumstances in which a county must notify federal immigration authorities prior to release from custody, while preserving notification requirements for people convicted of violent felonies, murder, sexual offenses, certain firearm and gang offenses, and other specified serious crimes. Supporters said the measure balances public safety with the need for immigrant communities to trust local law enforcement when reporting crime or serving as victims or witnesses.
“The bill provides guidance ... regarding the circumstances in which [departments of corrections] will notify our federal immigration authorities,” the bill sponsor said on the floor. The sponsor added the bill also allows counties that choose to maintain broader agreements to continue doing so and provides a 30‑day notice period for jurisdictions to terminate existing agreements.
Opponents called the measure a “Trojan horse,” arguing it failed to cover past convictions or certain cross‑jurisdictional convictions, and warned it would reduce counties’ ability to turn over individuals with serious prior convictions to ICE. Other speakers cited national security examples and urged cooperation in cases involving terrorism or organized criminal activity; the sponsor said an amendment included cooperation where an Interpol notice exists.
The clerk announced there were 98 votes in the affirmative; House Bill 12 22 was declared passed.
Why it matters: The bill alters local law enforcement interaction with federal immigration authorities, affecting community policing and the handling of detained noncitizens across counties. Supporters said it protects trust in policing in immigrant‑heavy communities; opponents said it could let dangerous individuals remain in the community.
Discussion focused on collateral arrests (when immigration enforcement reaches non‑targets), whether the bill would increase or decrease public safety, and the scope and constitutional basis for local‑federal agreements. The floor record shows the bill passed and jurisdictions may still opt into broader cooperation on their own.
