Maryland just banned the tool that lets local cops work with federal immigration agents, and sheriffs are already promising to find workarounds that could reshape how immigration enforcement happens on the streets instead of in jails.
Quick Take
- Governor Wes Moore signed legislation immediately terminating all 287(g) agreements between Maryland law enforcement and ICE across nine counties
- The ban shifts immigration enforcement from detention facilities to community streets, where sheriffs warn of increased ICE apprehensions and gang activity
- Local law enforcement officials vow to continue informal cooperation with ICE despite the legal prohibition, setting up potential legal challenges
- The policy clash reveals a fundamental disagreement: whether local-federal immigration partnerships protect communities or undermine immigrant trust in police
What 287(g) Actually Does
The 287(g) program lets local officers in jails screen detainees for immigration status and alert federal agents when someone already in custody has an immigration detainer. Maryland operated two versions: the jail model, where correctional officers actively screen for immigration violations, and the warrant model, which only flags people with active Department of Homeland Security warrants. Nine counties participated, with five joining within the past year alone.
Why This Matters Right Now
Governor Moore signed the bill on February 17, 2026, with immediate effect. All existing agreements must terminate by July 1. Senate President Ferguson called public safety arguments against the ban “fear tactics,” while Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins, who runs the nation’s longest-operating 287(g) program, warned of increased criminal gang activity and transnational criminal operations. The tension between state policy and local enforcement practice is no longer theoretical—it’s operational.
Supporters argue the program erodes immigrant community trust in police, making residents reluctant to report crimes or cooperate with investigations. They cite concerns about racial profiling and family separations. Opponents, including crime victim advocates like Patty Morin, whose daughter was killed by an undocumented immigrant, contend the program prevents dangerous criminals from operating freely. Both sides cite real consequences; neither side is wrong about their concerns.
The Workaround Problem
Sheriffs aren’t accepting defeat quietly. Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees stated plainly: “No politician is going to tell me that I can’t communicate with another law enforcement agency on matters of public safety in my community.” Multiple sheriffs say they’ll continue informal cooperation through immigration detainers and arrest sheet sharing. But the legal boundaries of such cooperation under the new law remain murky and will likely face judicial review.
Gov. Wes Moore signs law banning Maryland partnerships with federal immigration authoritieshttps://t.co/CgQdHpYekl pic.twitter.com/IkNiFeESm1
— Emma Inn (@emma_inn28157) February 17, 2026
What Changes on the Ground
The practical effect is significant. Structured screening in detention facilities stops. ICE enforcement likely shifts to community streets and traffic stops. Sheriffs predict increased gang activity and criminal element penetration. Immigrant advocates predict increased crime reporting and community cooperation. Both predictions could be right simultaneously—the same policy change that reduces deportation risk from jail bookings might increase street-level ICE presence.
Maryland is now positioning itself as a sanctuary jurisdiction, though not a complete one. The law doesn’t prevent ICE from operating independently; it only prohibits formal local partnerships. Governor Moore frames immigration as a federal responsibility requiring congressional action, not local enforcement partnerships. Whether that philosophical stance shields Maryland from federal retaliation remains uncertain—sources reference FEMA funding denial and White House invitation rescission, though causality isn’t definitively established.
Sources:
Fox Baltimore – Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Expected to Sign Bill Banning 287(g) Immigration Program
WJLA – Bill to End Counties’ 287(g) ICE Partnerships Headed to Gov. Moore’s Desk
WMDT – Breaking: Gov. Moore Signs Bill Prohibiting 287(g) Agreements; Wicomico to Exit
