Maryland Bans Local Police from Assisting Federal Immigration Enforcement

New law prohibits cooperation agreements between local law enforcement and ICE, drawing pushback from some Republican sheriffs

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Maryland has passed a new law prohibiting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities through agreements like the 287(g) program. The law will immediately end such agreements in counties like Frederick, which has turned over nearly 1,900 inmates to ICE since 2008. Democratic state leaders say the law protects civil rights, while some Republican sheriffs argue it will make communities less safe by forcing ICE to take a more visible enforcement role.

Why it matters

The Maryland law is part of a growing trend of Democratic-led states pushing back against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Ten states now have policies banning local police cooperation with ICE, mirroring broader public discomfort with the president's immigration crackdown. The debate highlights the political tensions and competing public safety concerns surrounding federal-local immigration enforcement partnerships.

The details

The 287(g) program, which trains local officers to assist with immigration enforcement, has expanded significantly under the Trump administration. Participation has grown from 135 agreements in 20 states before Trump took office to over 1,400 current agreements across 41 states and territories. Some states, like Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Texas, even require local jails to participate. But Democratic-led states are now moving to limit or ban these arrangements, with new laws in Maryland, New Mexico and Maine, and pending legislation in New York and Virginia.

  • The Maryland law was signed into law on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • The 287(g) program was revived and expanded by the Trump administration after being used more narrowly under the Biden administration.

The players

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland who signed the law prohibiting local police cooperation with ICE.

Charles Jenkins

The Republican sheriff of Frederick County, Maryland, who is disappointed by the new law ending the county's cooperative agreement with ICE.

Joseline Peña-Melnyk

The Democratic speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, who says the law shows Maryland values civil rights and empathy for immigrants.

Jeffrey Gahler

The Republican sheriff of Harford County, Maryland, who believes the new law will lead to more, not less, direct immigration enforcement by ICE in the state.

Saddam Azlan Salim

A Democratic state senator in Virginia who has introduced a bill to place limits on any proposed 287(g) agreements in the state.

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What they’re saying

“We value empathy. We value people's contribution. We value the Constitution. We value and support and protect civil rights.”

— Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Maryland House Speaker (The Washington Post)

“I'm extremely disappointed with the legislation, because really and truly, it's going to put the public at risk in a lot of ways.”

— Charles Jenkins, Frederick County Sheriff (The Baltimore Sun)

“I think what you'll see is more immigrant enforcement, not less. Our program was the safest way and the best way to identify people' in the U.S. illegally.”

— Jeffrey Gahler, Harford County Sheriff (The Washington Post)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Maryland law is part of a broader political backlash against the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, with Democratic-led states increasingly moving to limit cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. The debate highlights the complex balance between public safety, civil rights, and the role of federal versus local law enforcement when it comes to immigration.