Today, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland made a decisive move on immigration enforcement policy by signing emergency legislation to end 287(g) agreements within the state. As reported by WBALTV, Moore said, "Maryland is a community of immigrants. It is not our weakness, it's our strength. This is not rhetoric, it is our reality." His actions were aimed at banning these agreements, which allow local law enforcement to act as immigration agents.
The emergency bills, House Bill 444 and Senate Bill 245, effectively prevent state and local agencies from participating in the immigration enforcement program, which included tasks like flagging and detaining undocumented immigrants for ICE. According to the legislative text, all existing 287(g) agreements must, however, end by July 2026. Moore emphasized, as CBS Baltimore reported, "This legislation does not authorize the release of criminals," in an effort to maintain a focus on public safety without enacting immigration enforcement duties on local officers.
As indicated by the Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk, the bill’s intent extends beyond altering enforcement practices; it upholds values of respect, empathy, and constitutional rights. As per WBALTV, Peña-Melnyk said, "We are against racial profiling and we are going to be unapologetic about the values we stand for."
Meanwhile, supporters, including CASA, an immigration advocacy group, showed up to back the legislation. They align with Moore’s stance that the new law is meant to protect communities and maintain public safety without unnecessary ICE intervention. On the flip side, the governor's decision has drawn criticism from the Maryland Freedom Caucus and local sheriffs. As highlighted by CBS Baltimore, the caucus stated, "Sheriffs across Maryland have warned that ending cooperation with ICE will not make communities safer, it will lock down law enforcement and shift encounters from controlled jail transfers to street-level confrontations."
The bill’s passing closes a chapter in Maryland's history with 287(g) — a policy in place for nearly two decades — as reported by Natasha Dartigue, Maryland Public Defender, who told WBALTV, "Today, this ends." Dartigue described previous enforcement as a "deportation pipeline," undermining due process and eroding trust between the community and the justice system. With Moore's directives to state agencies, these shifts mark a new enforcement era, echoing his belief in a Maryland that both protects its residents and honors its diverse heritage.
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