Baltimore Council to Consider Limits on ICE Cooperation

Proposed legislation would restrict city's interactions with federal immigration agency

Mar. 23, 2026 at 5:16pm

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The Baltimore City Council's public safety committee is set to vote on legislation that would sharply limit the city's cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill would require police officers to record any interactions with ICE officers on body-worn cameras.

Why it matters

This proposed legislation is part of a broader effort by Baltimore officials to distance the city from federal immigration enforcement actions. It follows the mayor's recent executive order barring ICE from using city resources without a court order, as well as a separate bill to ban private detention centers in the city.

The details

The new bill would place strict limits on how Baltimore police can interact with ICE agents. Officers would be required to record any encounters with ICE on their body cameras, providing more transparency around these interactions.

  • The City Council's public safety committee will vote on the legislation later this morning (March 23, 2026).
  • Last week, the mayor issued an executive order barring ICE from using city property, information, or equipment without a federal court order.

The players

Baltimore City Council

The legislative body of Baltimore city government, which is set to consider the new restrictions on ICE cooperation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement, which the proposed legislation would limit the city's interactions with.

Baltimore Mayor

The chief executive of Baltimore city government, who last week issued an executive order restricting ICE's use of city resources.

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What’s next

If approved by the public safety committee, the full City Council will then vote on the legislation to limit Baltimore's cooperation with ICE.

The takeaway

Baltimore is taking steps to distance itself from federal immigration enforcement actions, reflecting a broader trend of cities and states seeking to limit their involvement with ICE amid concerns over civil liberties and community trust.