NOTTINGHAM, MD—Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler on Tuesday thanked “Maryland Sheriffs and the residents of Maryland who made their voices heard loud and clear to save the 287(g) public safety partnership programs in Maryland.”
House Bill 1222, introduced by Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s), would have prohibited local law enforcement agencies from entering into agreements with federal immigration officials such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law enforcement officials spoke out against the measure last month.
The 2025 Maryland General Assembly session came to a close on Monday evening at 11:59 p.m. While HB 1222 did pass just prior to midnight, the Senate removed the language that would have forced the termination of all 287(g) Programs in Maryland. This means that local authorities are free to continue their federal public safety partnerships with ICE.
“I am thankful to all Harford County residents and everyone across Maryland who got involved and contacted members of the General Assembly in an effort to save our partnership program with the Federal Government to remove criminal illegal immigrants from our community,” said Sheriff Gahler. “Working with all of our local, state and federal partners is public safety 101 and it is a shame that some in Annapolis still refuse to acknowledge this fact and sought to end these existing programs.”
“The 287(g) Program has been in existence for nearly 30 years and in Harford County, we have partnered with ICE for the past eight years,” Gahler continued. “This program allows local jurisdictions to partner with ICE to screen all individuals who are processed into the Detention Center on local charges to determine their immigration status. If found to be in the Country illegally and, based on ICE’s priorities of Public Safety and/or National Security, ICE can initiate deportation proceedings.”
Meanwhile, officials with CASA, a Latino and immigration advocacy-and-assistance organization based in Maryland, condemned the Senate’s actions.
Cathryn Jackson, CASA’s public policy director, issued the following statement:
“The Senate flat-out refused to pass the Values Act, the most important immigrant rights bill in recent Maryland history – during a time when Trump’s ICE machine is cruelly abducting and disappearing immigrants. The Senate didn’t just walk away from a bill; they walked away from thousands of Maryland families who needed protection.
“While Trump’s deportation machine is snatching people off the streets and tearing parents from children and neighborhoods from communities, the Maryland Senate had the power to stop participating in it – and they chose not to. The willful neglect of the Senate President to end 287 (g) agreements will allow for Trump’s assault on Marylanders to continue unchecked: police working for and reporting to ICE will continue.
“On the day that the Supreme Court failed to protect Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland Senate also failed to protect immigrants. We should change our laws to match our values, not change our values to match our laws: the country has witnessed how Maryland lawmakers’ intentional inaction aligns us with Trump laws – and with Trump values.”
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