Annapolis, MD – A new measure introduced in the Maryland Senate would prohibit any state or local agency, sheriff, or law enforcement officer from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities, effectively ending cooperative arrangements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Filed as Senate Bill 245 and sponsored by Senators Smith, Ferguson, and Lewis Young, the proposal titled Public Safety – Immigration Enforcement Agreements – Prohibition would bar the state and local jurisdictions from entering, renewing, or maintaining any “immigration enforcement agreement” with the federal government. The bill defines such agreements as contracts, intergovernmental service agreements, or memorandums of understanding that authorize Maryland officials to enforce civil immigration laws under federal statutes including 8 U.S.C. §1103 and §1357.
Under the bill, any existing agreements would be required to be terminated no later than July 1, 2026. The legislation also mandates that state and local entities use the termination provisions within those agreements to end cooperation with federal immigration enforcement before the deadline.
Supporters of the measure argue that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that state and local participation strains community relationships and diverts resources from public safety. Opponents are expected to raise concerns about the potential impact on coordination between local law enforcement and federal authorities, particularly in cases involving serious crimes or immigration detainers.
The bill was read for the first time on January 15 and referred to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee for review. If enacted, the law would take effect June 1, 2026, positioning Maryland among a small number of states formally separating local law enforcement duties from federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The proposal would end all state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement programs by mid-2026.
