Maryland committee hears push to end 287(g) jail agreements, advocates say program harms public safety and trust

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 27 heard extensive testimony on House Bill 1222, sponsored by Delegate Nicole Williams, which would prohibit state and local governments from entering into or continuing certain voluntary immigration‑enforcement agreements with federal authorities under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Supporters told the committee that the jail‑based 287(g) model erodes trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, discourages crime reporting and cooperation with police, and funnels people with little or no criminal history into deportation proceedings. Opponents, including some sheriffs and corrections officials, said the program helps identify people who pose public‑safety risks and that local agencies use it to arrest people already encountered in jails.

"This bill would prohibit any agent of the state or unit of local government from entering into certain voluntary immigration enforcement agreements with the Federal Government," Delegate Nicole Williams told the committee. She said the measure would not prevent local authorities from complying with valid judicial warrants for people convicted of violent crimes.

Why it matters: Testimony showed a split between advocates who said 287(g) undermines public safety by creating fear in immigrant communities and law‑enforcement officials who said the agreements provide a useful tool to identify suspects who would otherwise remain unknown to federal authorities.

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