Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman on Tuesday signed an executive order that tells Immigration and Customs Enforcement to largely stay off county turf unless agents show up with a valid judicial warrant. The directive blocks ICE from using most county-owned property for civil immigration enforcement and instructs county police to probe reports of violence or property damage involving federal immigration officers, using de-escalation tactics if enforcement activity ramps up. Pittman says the goal is to protect residents’ access to county services and maintain trust between immigrant communities and local government.
What the order does
According to Anne Arundel County, Executive Order No. 70 defines "County-Owned Facilities" broadly, including buildings, offices, parks, parking lots, parking garages, and vacant lots. ICE personnel are barred from using those spaces for surveillance, staging, detention, vehicle storage, or deployment of personnel unless they have a valid judicial warrant. The order spells out that administrative warrants, detainers, or similar documents not signed by a judge do not count as valid judicial warrants for county purposes. It also notes that the restrictions do not apply where the county lacks legal authority to limit access, such as areas that are open to the general public.
How the county plans to respond
The order directs the Anne Arundel County Police Department to investigate all instances of violence, allegations of violence, or property damage involving federal agents, and to respond to 911 calls about warrantless entry with de-escalation tactics. The county law office told reporters that parking lots tied to county facilities are meant for patrons, so they are not automatically available as staging grounds for ICE operations. Officials say those investigations will move forward even if federal authorities are conducting their own inquiries and may be referred to the county's state attorney or the Maryland attorney general when appropriate, according to The Banner.
Statewide move on immigrant protections
On Friday, Gov. Wes Moore signed a separate executive order creating the Maryland Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force to coordinate state agencies, legal services, and outreach related to fraud, exploitation, and other rights violations affecting immigrant Marylanders. As outlined by the Office of Governor Wes Moore, the task force, administered by the Governor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, must issue an initial report by July 15, 2026, followed by a final report by May 31, 2027.
Local officials split
Reaction inside the Anne Arundel government was quick and not exactly subtle. Councilman Nathan Volke argued that Pittman is "serving a political agenda at taxpayers’ expense" and warned that the order creates obstacles for federal enforcement, according to The Banner. Pittman, who also chairs the state Democratic Party, told constituents on social media that "while we can’t interfere with federal agents conducting their job responsibilities, we can demand accountability."
Recent ICE activity in the area
The county’s move follows a winter spike in immigration enforcement. Local officials described an "unprecedented" surge of ICE activity in January that led to multiple detentions, and ICE later said it arrested 10 people near Annapolis during that operation. The county also responded to a Christmas Eve incident in Glen Burnie in which federal agents fired at a vehicle, prompting additional local scrutiny, according to WMAR-2 News.
Legal guardrails and what comes next
The executive order builds in legal caveats, stating that it cannot be interpreted to conflict with federal or state law. ICE may still use county property that is open to the general public or where the county does not have the authority to limit access. As Anne Arundel County notes, local authority is limited, and officials say they will work with prosecutors and legal counsel as they review allegations of misconduct.
County officials say they plan to keep monitoring enforcement activity and will pursue criminal referrals when warranted, while the state task force will continue studying protections and is required to publish its initial report by July 15, 2026, according to the Office of Governor Wes Moore. How those pieces actually mesh on the ground in Anne Arundel will determine whether the new rules meaningfully change how immigration enforcement plays out in the county.
