Maryland Delegate Defends 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Program

Delegate Robin Grammer argues the program is misunderstood and necessary for public safety.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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In a letter to the editor, Maryland Delegate Robin Grammer defended the 287(g) program that allows local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Grammer argued the program has been mischaracterized by Democrats as an aggressive tactic to target undocumented immigrants, when in reality it is a legal process to transfer criminals who are in the country illegally to federal custody. Grammer warned that repealing 287(g) would lead to more illegal immigrants being released back onto the streets, posing a public safety risk.

Why it matters

The 287(g) program has become a political flashpoint in Maryland, with Democrats seeking to repeal it and Republicans like Grammer arguing it is a necessary tool for law enforcement. This debate reflects the broader national divide over immigration enforcement and the role of local police in cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The details

The 287(g) program was created by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and allows the Department of Homeland Security to form agreements with state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration law. In Maryland, 9 counties have such agreements, which Grammer says are used to detain and transfer undocumented immigrants who are arrested for other crimes, not to conduct sweeps or raids. Grammer argues that repealing 287(g) would lead to more illegal immigrants being released back into communities, posing a public safety risk.

  • The 287(g) program was created by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
  • The 287(g) program has been in use in Maryland for decades.

The players

Robin Grammer

A Baltimore County Republican who represents District 6 in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland who Grammer is urging to veto legislation to repeal the 287(g) program.

Bill Clinton

The former Democratic president who signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 into law, creating the 287(g) program.

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What they’re saying

“Whether it be blaming Washington for our economic woes or playing off their corrupt redistricting plan as a way to protect the voters, Wes Moore and the Maryland Democrat Party here in Annapolis are masters of falsehoods and deception.”

— Robin Grammer, Maryland Delegate (baltimorepostexaminer.com)

“The crux of the Democrats' deception is that repealing 287(g) will make our communities safer. In fact, it will do the opposite. Banning cooperation agreements between local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security will inevitably result in the illegal aliens that were once being held in custody awaiting transfer now being let back onto the streets.”

— Robin Grammer, Maryland Delegate (baltimorepostexaminer.com)

What’s next

The Maryland legislature is currently considering a bill to repeal the 287(g) program in the state. Grammer is urging Governor Wes Moore to veto any such legislation.

The takeaway

This debate over the 287(g) program highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement, with Republicans arguing it is a necessary tool for public safety and Democrats portraying it as an aggressive tactic that harms immigrant communities. The outcome in Maryland could have implications for how other states approach the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration efforts.