Maryland GOP Slams Democrats Over Immigration Bill

Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready criticizes Community Trust Act and new paint recycling program

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:04pm

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A conceptual illustration depicting the fractured, high-energy debate over immigration policy in Maryland, with overlapping geometric shapes and figures representing the clash of political forces.The partisan battle over Maryland's new immigration enforcement law reflects the state's deep political divisions.Baltimore Today

Maryland Republicans, led by Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready, are strongly criticizing Democrats for pushing through the Community Trust Act, which restricts local law enforcement from collaborating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Ready argues lawmakers should have focused more on affordability issues instead of 'cracking down on ICE.' He is also criticizing a new state-wide paint recycling program, calling it 'more nickel-and-diming of Marylanders.'

Why it matters

The debate over the Community Trust Act highlights the ongoing partisan divide in Maryland over immigration policy and the role of local law enforcement. Ready's comments reflect the Republican opposition to measures they see as limiting ICE's ability to enforce federal immigration laws. The paint recycling program criticism also speaks to broader GOP concerns about government expansion and fees impacting Maryland residents.

The details

The Maryland General Assembly has already passed a bill earlier in the session banning sheriffs and police departments from having formal agreements with ICE. Ready argues the 'whole session was basically about how many different ways can we pass bills to try to crack down on ICE, stop ICE.' He says the 'mainstream Democratic Party position is basically we don't want anybody to be deported.' Democrats have argued the moves were necessary to push back against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Maryland's new Democratic Governor, Wes Moore, has not yet signed the Community Trust Act. Ready is also criticizing a new state-wide paint recycling program, funded by a small fee added to paint purchases, which allows residents to bring back unused paint to participating stores. Ready says some counties already had their own paint recycling setups at dump sites and calls the new program 'more nickel-and-diming of Marylanders.'

  • The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill earlier in the session banning sheriffs and police from formal agreements with ICE.
  • The new state-wide paint recycling program was launched in Maryland earlier this month.

The players

Justin Ready

The Maryland Senate Minority Whip who is criticizing Democrats over the Community Trust Act and the new paint recycling program.

Wes Moore

The Democratic Governor of Maryland who has not yet signed the Community Trust Act.

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What they’re saying

“The whole session was basically about how many different ways can we pass bills to try to crack down on ICE, stop ICE. Right now, unfortunately, the mainstream Democratic Party position is basically we don't want anybody to be deported.”

— Justin Ready, Maryland Senate Minority Whip

“It's more nickel-and-diming of Marylanders. This is why it's so important — we get a lot of headline issues in Annapolis — but this is why it's important to have people watching everything. This is the sort of thing that drives people nuts.”

— Justin Ready, Maryland Senate Minority Whip

What’s next

Governor Wes Moore has not yet signed the Community Trust Act, so the next step will be whether he chooses to sign or veto the bill.

The takeaway

The debate over the Community Trust Act highlights the deep partisan divide in Maryland over immigration policy, with Republicans like Justin Ready accusing Democrats of being too lenient on immigration enforcement. The criticism of the new paint recycling program also speaks to broader GOP concerns about government expansion and fees impacting residents.