Baltimore City Council Passes Bill to Protect Immigrant Communities

The Safe Spaces and Communities Act aims to limit ICE interactions in city buildings and with police.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 6:22am

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The Baltimore City Council has passed the Safe Spaces and Communities bill, which aims to protect immigrant communities from interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill has two main components: it requires city agencies to develop plans for handling ICE entry into buildings, and it clearly states the Baltimore Police Department's policy of not cooperating with ICE and de-escalating any such interactions.

Why it matters

This legislation is seen as an important step in supporting Baltimore's immigrant communities and limiting the ability of federal immigration authorities to operate within the city. It comes at a time when many cities are grappling with how to balance federal immigration enforcement with protecting the rights and wellbeing of their residents.

The details

The Safe Spaces and Communities Act requires city agencies to develop plans for addressing ICE entry into their buildings, including not allowing access without a judicial warrant. It also mandates training for city employees on how to handle ICE interactions. For the police department, the bill clearly states their existing policy of not cooperating with ICE, recording any interactions, and de-escalating the situation.

  • The Baltimore City Council passed the bill on March 25, 2026.
  • The council heard testimony on the bill around two weeks prior to the vote.

The players

Odette Ramos

A Baltimore City Councilmember representing District 14 and a sponsor of the Safe Spaces and Communities bill.

Mark Parker

A Baltimore City Councilmember representing District 1 and a sponsor of the Safe Spaces and Communities bill.

Crisaly De Los Santos

The director of the Central Maryland and Baltimore branch of the immigrant advocacy group We Are CASA.

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What they’re saying

“This victory belongs to immigrant families who organized, spoke up, and demanded that Baltimore choose them over fear, family separation, and chaos.”

— Crisaly De Los Santos, Director of We Are CASA's Central Maryland and Baltimore branch

“It's not really an enforcement thing. It's really about, 'Here's what the policy is, here's how we're going to treat our residents, and here's what's going to happen if ICE ends up trying to come in,' and that's what's really important.”

— Odette Ramos, Baltimore City Councilmember

“In terms of whether there's violations of civil rights or other civil actions that can be taken, that's for our great law department to figure out. We're going to make sure that our staff knows what to do and trust that we will take every opportunity we can to make sure that the law is followed more broadly.”

— Mark Parker, Baltimore City Councilmember

What’s next

The Baltimore City Council will work with city agencies to implement the new policies and training outlined in the Safe Spaces and Communities Act.

The takeaway

This legislation represents Baltimore's commitment to protecting its immigrant communities and limiting the ability of federal immigration authorities to operate within the city. It sends a strong message that the city will not cooperate with harmful and cruel federal policies that target and separate immigrant families.