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Speakers urge Montgomery County to ban private immigration detention sites and ease vehicle recovery for detained families
Summary
Dozens of residents, students, faith leaders and advocacy groups urged the Montgomery County Council to pass two expedited bills: Bill 13-26 (ICE Out Act), which would bar county permits for privately owned immigration detention facilities, and Bill 14-26, which would ease vehicle redemption for families when owners are detained.
Dozens of speakers at the Montgomery County Council’s public hearing urged lawmakers to pass Bill 13-26, the ICE Out Act, and Bill 14-26, the Vehicle Recovery Act, arguing the measures would protect families and prevent private immigration detention facilities from locating in the county.
Student and community witnesses described the effects of enforcement on school attendance, mental health and family stability. "Passing the ICE Out Act is about making a clear decision that Montgomery County will be a place where students and families feel protected, not threatened," said Rimae Eme, a junior at Walt Johnson High School, in testimony supporting both bills.
Advocates from immigrant-rights groups and mutual-aid organizations described conditions in existing detention centers and the economic impact on families when a detained person is the only person on a vehicle title. "A car is not a luxury for them. A car for them is survival," said Leslie Jamilette Diaz Monge, recounting how towed vehicles and daily fees compound crises for families.
Organizational testimony included accounts from We Are Casa, SEIU Local 500, CASA and other legal and social‑service providers. Pablo Blank of We Are Casa urged adding accessible documents to the Vehicle Recovery Act and recommended including student IDs and tax returns to establish family relationship and ownership when foreign documents are difficult to obtain.
Some speakers tied the two bills to rising enforcement: Viviana Lozano of CASA said Maryland arrests by ICE rose sharply in 2025 and described immediate legal, housing and health impacts on families. Multiple speakers cited viral footage and reporting about conditions in nearby facilities as evidence of harm that local policy can help limit.
A small number of commenters opposed the bills or criticized their framing. James Duruva Kumar, who identified himself as a candidate for U.S. House, criticized the title “ICE Out” and raised broader immigration and public‑safety concerns. His remarks were challenged from the lectern by other participants.
Council staff announced committee work sessions for both measures: an Economic Development Committee work session for Bill 13‑26 is scheduled for April 10, 2026; a joint Public Safety and Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee session for Bill 14‑26 is scheduled for April 15, 2026. Speakers were told to submit materials for council consideration by the close of business on April 2, 2026.
The hearing captured strong community concern about detention conditions, family separation and the practical consequences of detention for everyday needs such as accessing a vehicle. Council members did not take final votes on the expedited bills during the session; the public hearing was closed before committee review and further deliberation.
