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Howard County council adopts emergency ban on private detention centers
Summary
The Howard County Council unanimously approved emergency legislation (CB16-20-26) banning conversion of offices and warehouses into private detention centers, citing proximity to schools and community health and safety concerns.
Opal Jones, chair of the Howard County Council, opened an emergency session and the council moved to consider Council Bill 16-20-26, emergency legislation amending the county building code to prohibit privately owned detention facilities from operating in office or warehouse spaces.
The measure was introduced by the chair at the request of the county executive and cosponsored by several council members. Chair Opal Jones said the proposed detention center “is nestled in my district” and flagged the facility’s proximity to Deep Run Elementary School, Mayfield Woods Middle School and nearby parks and neighborhoods as unacceptable. Jones said the council must “choose stability over fear” and voted in favor.
Councilmember Deb Young thanked community advocacy groups and residents who spoke and submitted testimony, and described the bill as a necessary legislative response to federal immigration enforcement practices that have raised local concerns. Councilmember Christiana Rigby said CB16 prevents offices and warehouses from being repurposed “into pop up prisons and detention centers” and framed the bill as an exercise of local authority to protect public health and safety. Councilmember Liz Walsh said the bill was “a stick in the spoke of the wheel,” signaling additional measures to follow, and voted yes.
Councilmember Youngman, while expressing concerns about zoning and financing mechanics used by federal agencies, said he would still vote in favor. The motion to approve CB16 passed unanimously.
The ordinance is enacted as emergency legislation, and council members emphasized that it responds to constituent concern about potential for private detention operations near schools and residential areas. The council did not specify an effective date in the session record shown; implementation details and any administrative rules were said to follow through normal county processes.
The council moved immediately afterward to consider separate emergency legislation on county guidance for interactions with federal immigration authorities.
