Baltimore City Council Considers Safe Spaces and Communities Act

Legislation aims to limit city's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Baltimore City Council is considering the Safe Spaces and Communities Act, which would sharply limit the city's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The legislation would codify an existing executive order by the mayor barring ICE from using city property, information or equipment without a federal court order. The hearing featured testimony from residents, including a teacher and first responder, describing the impacts of ICE actions on the community.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation reflects growing efforts by state and local governments to exert more control over the impact of federal immigration enforcement actions within their jurisdictions. The hearing highlighted concerns from residents about the disruption caused by ICE operations and the desire to create 'safe spaces' where immigrants feel protected.

The details

The Safe Spaces and Communities Act would require Baltimore police officers to record any interactions with ICE officers on body-worn cameras. The bill has widespread support on the City Council, with 14 of the 15 members backing the measure. Supporters say it would codify the mayor's existing executive order limiting ICE's use of city resources. The hearing featured emotional testimony from residents, including a teacher who described the impact on his immigrant students and a first responder who witnessed what they called 'inhumane and immoral' conditions at an ICE facility.

  • The Baltimore City Council Public Safety and Government Operations Committee held a hearing on the Safe Spaces and Communities Act on March 10, 2026.
  • A bill was introduced the day before the hearing to ban private detention centers in Baltimore.
  • The mayor issued an executive order a week earlier barring ICE from using city property, information or equipment without a federal court order.

The players

Mark Conway

Baltimore City Councilman, D-District 4, and chairman of the Public Safety and Government Operations Committee.

Odette Ramos

Baltimore City Councilwoman, D-District 14.

Cindy Ogide

Representative from CASA, an immigration advocacy organization.

Mike Marinelli

A seventh grade English teacher in Baltimore City.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“The city of Baltimore should provide no support, no coordination and no assistance to beyond what is explicitly required by federal law.”

— Mark Conway, Baltimore City Councilman, D-District 4

“We're being very crystal clear in this legislation to ensure that we're not part of that and to be very crystal clear to the public what our role is as city government.”

— Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Councilwoman, D-District 14

“People are being detained while dropping their children onto school, outside of grocery store, while headed to work, or even outside places of worship.”

— Cindy Ogide, Representative, CASA

“All of our country's youth deserve the right to a quality and stable education that is free from fear.”

— Mike Marinelli, Seventh grade English teacher

“What I saw in the Fallon Federal Building was inhumane and immoral.”

— Anonymous first responder

What’s next

The Baltimore City Council is expected to vote on the Safe Spaces and Communities Act in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation in Baltimore reflects a growing trend of state and local governments seeking to limit the impact of federal immigration enforcement actions within their communities, driven by concerns about the disruption caused to immigrant families and the desire to create 'safe spaces' where immigrants feel protected.