New state laws force some sheriffs to stop cooperating with Trump's immigration crackdown

Democratic-led states are pushing back against Trump's immigration enforcement efforts

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Over the past 18 years, officers at Maryland's Frederick County jail have asked thousands of inmates about their citizenship and birthplace, and turned over nearly 1,900 people to ICE. But a new Maryland law prohibiting immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government is putting an immediate halt to this practice. The new law highlights the extent to which Democratic-led states are pushing back against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, with 10 states now having statewide policies prohibiting law enforcement officers from cooperating in Trump's immigration enforcement programs.

Why it matters

The new Maryland law is part of a broader trend of Democratic-led states resisting Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, which have faced mounting scrutiny and public backlash. This resistance has increased as the Trump administration faces criticism over its large-scale immigration enforcement efforts and fatal shootings by federal agents.

The details

The 287(g) program, which trains local law officers to interrogate and detain people suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, has expanded significantly under Trump, from 135 agreements in 20 states before he took office to more than 1,400 current agreements in 41 states and territories. About 800 entities have task force pacts, granting the most expansive authority. As an incentive, ICE offers local agencies that sign task force agreements $100,000 for new vehicles and covers the salary, benefits and $7,500 for equipment of each trained task force officer.

  • Over the past 18 years, officers at Maryland's Frederick County jail have asked thousands of inmates about their citizenship and birthplace.
  • Since 2008, Frederick County has turned over 1,884 people to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
  • The new Maryland law prohibiting immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government was signed into law on Tuesday.

The players

Wes Moore

The Democratic governor of Maryland who signed the new law prohibiting immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government.

Charles Jenkins

The longtime Republican sheriff of Frederick County, Maryland, who is disappointed with the new law and believes it will put the public at risk.

Joseline Peña-Melnyk

The Maryland House Speaker who immigrated from the Dominican Republic when she was 8 and said the new law shows that Maryland values civil rights, empathy, and the Constitution.

Jeffrey Gahler

The Harford County, Maryland sheriff who said the new law will lead to more immigrant enforcement, not less, and that his agency's program was the safest way to identify people in the U.S. illegally.

Saddam Azlan Salim

The Democratic state senator in Virginia who put forward a bill to place guardrails on any proposed 287(g) agreements, saying he wants to give comfort to thousands of men, women and children in the Commonwealth who are living in fear of federal immigration agents.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

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

— Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Maryland House Speaker (ksgf.com)

“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, Sheriff of Frederick County, Maryland (ksgf.com)

“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, Maryland Sheriff (ksgf.com)

“I'm seeking to give some comfort to thousands of men, women and children in the Commonwealth who are living in fear that federal agents might send them or their family members to a country they fled, or a country they have never been to.”

— Saddam Azlan Salim, Democratic state senator in Virginia (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The Virginia Senate has passed a bill that would place hefty guardrails on any proposed 287(g) agreements, and the bill still must go to the House for approval.

The takeaway

The growing resistance from Democratic-led states against Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics highlights the political and public backlash against these policies, and the efforts to protect civil rights and limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.