Maryland Lawmakers Debate Banning Trump-Era ICE Recruits from State Police

A proposed bill would prohibit individuals who joined ICE during Trump's second term from serving with Maryland State Police.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:16am

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Maryland lawmakers are debating a bill that would ban individuals who joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during President Donald Trump's second term from ever serving with the Maryland State Police. The bill's sponsor, Delegate Adrian Boafo, a Democrat from Prince George's County, questioned the intentions of those who chose to participate in the president's immigration crackdown, stating that the state has done too much work to improve the state police to allow that "characteristic" into state government. However, Republican Baltimore County Del. Nino Mangione noted that around one-third of ICE employees are veterans, arguing that the bill would disqualify future veterans from working for the state.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation highlights the ongoing political tensions around immigration enforcement and the role of law enforcement agencies. The debate reflects broader concerns about the influence of federal immigration policies on state and local law enforcement, as well as the challenges of balancing national security priorities with civil liberties and community trust.

The details

The bill, introduced by Delegate Adrian Boafo, a Democrat from Prince George's County, would prohibit individuals who joined ICE during President Trump's second term from ever serving with the Maryland State Police. Boafo questioned the intentions of those who chose to participate in the president's immigration crackdown, stating that the state has done too much work to improve the state police to allow that "characteristic" into state government. However, Republican Baltimore County Del. Nino Mangione argued that the bill would disqualify future veterans who have worked for ICE, as around one-third of ICE employees are veterans.

  • The hearing on the bill was held on March 12, 2026.

The players

Adrian Boafo

A Democratic delegate from Prince George's County, Maryland, who introduced the bill to ban individuals who joined ICE during Trump's second term from serving with the Maryland State Police.

Nino Mangione

A Republican delegate from Baltimore County, Maryland, who argued that the proposed bill would disqualify future veterans who have worked for ICE, as around one-third of ICE employees are veterans.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

A federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for enforcing immigration laws in the United States.

Maryland State Police

The state police force of Maryland, responsible for law enforcement and public safety throughout the state.

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What they’re saying

“This committee, this General Assembly, the governor, past administrations have done too much work to improve state police to allow that characteristic into state government.”

— Adrian Boafo, Delegate, Prince George's County

“Under a bill like this, future veterans that fought overseas are being told by the state of Maryland because you worked for ICE, a federal agency, you've disqualified yourself from working for state government in Maryland.”

— Nino Mangione, Delegate, Baltimore County

What’s next

The Maryland General Assembly will continue to debate and consider the proposed bill, with a potential vote on its passage in the coming months.

The takeaway

The debate over this proposed legislation reflects the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement policies and state and local law enforcement, as well as the challenges of balancing national security priorities with civil liberties and community trust. The outcome of this bill could have significant implications for the composition and priorities of the Maryland State Police.