Wes Moore Ends Maryland ICE Partnerships

Maryland has officially stepped away from federal immigration enforcement and Governor Wes Moore is taking the heat.

In a move that immediately drew national attention, Moore signed legislation effectively banning Maryland’s participation in federal immigration enforcement agreements. The decision places the Democrat governor, often floated as a rising star in his party, squarely in the middle of the country’s escalating fight over immigration enforcement and public safety.

Senate Bill 245 and House Bill 444 prohibit the State of Maryland, along with counties, municipalities, and local sheriffs, from entering into or maintaining agreements with the federal government to enforce civil immigration law.

Most significantly, the legislation targets 287(g) agreements. Those partnerships previously allowed trained local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions in cooperation with ICE.

Under the new law:

• Existing 287(g) agreements must be terminated within 90 days.

• State and local agencies cannot enter new immigration enforcement contracts.

• Local personnel and resources are barred from assisting in federal civil immigration operations.

Classified as emergency legislation, the measure takes effect immediately.

Moore framed the decision as an effort to strengthen trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Supporters argue that when local police are seen as immigration agents, crime reporting declines and cooperation suffers.

Opponents, including several county sheriffs and Republican lawmakers, say the move removes an important tool for identifying and removing criminal offenders who are in the country illegally.

Programs such as ICE’s Criminal Alien Program are designed to identify non-citizens in jails and correctional facilities who may be subject to removal. In fiscal year 2023 alone, ICE reported more than 142,000 administrative arrests, a large percentage involving individuals with prior criminal convictions.

Critics argue that withdrawing from operational partnerships could make it harder to prevent repeat offenders from reentering communities after release.

Nationally, immigration enforcement has become a defining issue. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded over 2.4 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023 one of the highest totals on record. Meanwhile, a 2024 Gallup survey found immigration ranked as the top concern among American voters, surpassing the economy and crime.

Against that backdrop, decisions like Moore’s are unlikely to remain purely local matters.

Importantly, the legislation does not override federal information-sharing mandates. Under federal law, states cannot prohibit communication with ICE regarding an individual’s citizenship or immigration status. Maryland agencies may still share such information when required.

However, by formally ending operational immigration enforcement agreements, the state is withdrawing direct personnel participation from the front lines of federal immigration enforcement.

The legislation builds on prior measures passed during a 2021 special session that limited private detention facilities and restricted when officers could inquire about immigration status during routine stops.

Moore, widely viewed as a potential future presidential contender, is positioning himself firmly within the Democratic Party’s immigration orthodoxy. Advocates say the law protects civil liberties and builds community trust. Critics counter that it prioritizes politics over public safety.

Across the country, states are moving in opposite directions some expanding cooperation with ICE, others curtailing it. The result is a patchwork of immigration enforcement policies that vary dramatically depending on geography.

As immigration enforcement continues to dominate national debate heading into 2024, Maryland’s decision may serve as a preview of broader ideological battles ahead.

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