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Residents press council for answers after county executive signs 287(g) agreement; council says it was not informed
Summary
Multiple residents urged transparency after the county executive announced a Memorandum of Agreement with ICE for a 287(g) warrant service program; public commenters and council members clashed over whether the council had been consulted and whether the MOA should proceed now that the Maryland legislature is moving to ban such agreements.
Several Wicomico County residents used public comment on Feb. 3 to sharply question the county executive's decision to enter a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) related to a 287(g) arrangement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
At the podium, a resident identified as Joe Scafino said, "Recently the county executive entered the county into $2.87 gs agreement with ice using the warrant service officer program," and called for transparency in how the agreement is being implemented. Robert Taylor and other speakers said the state legislature moved quickly to make such agreements unlawful, and asked who in county government agreed to the MOA. Taylor said the executive had earlier told the public she would not act on ICE until after the General Assembly session, and that the press conference announcing the MOA constituted a reversal.
Speakers expressed concern about enforcement practices and cited national incidents to argue the policy has dangerous consequences. Bruce Robson and Monica Brooks (president, Wicomico County NAACP) described community fear and urged caution. Some speakers said the agreement might be legally permissible but politically harmful; others cited reports of alleged improper tactics by federal immigration officers as a reason to pause.
Council members responded in turn. Several (including Councilmember Ennis and Council President Cannon) said the County Executive is within her authority to enter the agreement but disputed claims that the council had been consulted or had given consensus. President Cannon said he had not spoken to the executive prior to the press conference and that the council did not receive the MOA until the Saturday after the press conference. Council members also noted that subsequent state action in the General Assembly had already begun to prohibit these agreements.
The exchange did not produce a formal council vote on the agreement; it did, however, underscore strong public opposition and a demand for public forums and more transparency from the administration about the scope, personnel and cost implications of the MOA.
