Wicomico County executive says 287(g) MOA signed to confine enforcement to jail, draws state opposition

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano said the county has signed a 287(g) warrant-service agreement and a related memorandum of agreement to allow federal immigration authorities to place detention holds in the county correctional facility rather than carry out enforcement operations in neighborhoods. "It gives us the guardrails," Giordano said, describing the arrangement as a tool county officials can use.

Giordano told the Bridging the Gap interview that she testified in Annapolis against a bill she said would effectively abolish 287(g) in Maryland. She and law-enforcement representatives held a press conference after the agreement was signed; sheriffs from Harford and Cecil counties attended, she said, and the sheriff of Wicomico voiced support for using the jail as the location for enforcement activity.

Giordano described public reaction at the press conference as mixed and acknowledged protests afterward. She urged demonstrators to exercise their constitutional rights peacefully and to avoid interfering with enforcement operations. "Please don't use your vehicle as a weapon," she said. She also said county leaders had informed the county council about the agreement and that some council members gave what she characterized as "silent support."

On the status of the collaboration, Giordano repeated that the MOA "has been signed" and the county will continue to work with federal partners. She said state lawmakers have expressed opposition and that the state-level debate could continue: "They're planning to testify on the house version of the bill," she said. Giordano also warned of potential state-federal tensions over enforcement and funding, saying the state would bear responsibility for consequences she attributes to removing local jail cooperation.

The county executive named a congressional ally she viewed as helpful in preserving local interests. She described the decision as an attempt to limit community-level enforcement actions and to prioritize public safety by keeping detention activity inside a secured facility. The state legislature's review and any legal or funding responses from state or federal authorities will determine the next steps.

The county has not recorded a public vote on the MOA in the interview; Giordano described the action as a signed agreement between the county and federal partners and said the sheriff supported the collaboration. The state legislative process and public debate were described as ongoing.