Baltimore County Council Rejects Mask Ban for ICE Agents

Councilman Izzy Patoka's proposal to prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing masks was voted down.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:12am

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The Baltimore County Council has rejected a bill proposed by Councilman Izzy Patoka that would have banned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks while operating in the county. Patoka argued the measure was needed to address fears among residents, but the council voted it down.

Why it matters

The proposed mask ban for ICE agents was an attempt by local officials to address concerns from residents about the presence and tactics of federal immigration enforcement in their community. The council's rejection of the bill highlights the ongoing tensions and debates around immigration policy at the local level.

The details

Councilman Izzy Patoka sponsored the bill, stating that there is "real fear among county residents" and that he wanted to make it clear that using masks to "create terror" and "fear" would violate county law. However, the Maryland attorney general's office had previously said such a ban would be difficult to enforce.

  • The Baltimore County Council voted down the mask ban bill on Monday night.
  • The Maryland Senate had approved similar legislation just last month.

The players

Izzy Patoka

A Baltimore County Councilman who sponsored the bill to ban ICE agents from wearing masks.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, whose agents were the target of the proposed mask ban.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to make it clear that if you are creating terror, if you are trying to create fear as part of your mode of operations then you are in clear violation of Baltimore County law.”

— Izzy Patoka, Baltimore County Councilman

What’s next

The Maryland attorney general's office had previously stated that such a mask ban would be difficult to enforce, so it is unclear if Councilman Patoka will pursue further legislative action on this issue.

The takeaway

This vote highlights the ongoing tensions between local governments and federal immigration enforcement, as well as the challenges of crafting policies to address community concerns about the tactics used by ICE agents.