Overview
- A Maryland Senate committee reviewed SB 660 and SB 791, the latest measures to curtail and scrutinize local law enforcement interactions with ICE.
- SB 791 would prohibit local officers from asking about citizenship status or detaining people for immigration purposes without a valid warrant.
- SB 660 would require a local officer to be present for ICE actions, capture body‑camera video, and publish a report detailing warrants, personnel, force used, and any constraints on local officers.
- Sheriffs from several counties opposed the bills at an Annapolis news conference, warning of manpower strains, loss of local autonomy, and what they called further “handcuffing” of law enforcement.
- Opponents say the limits will push ICE toward more street‑level operations and note they are exploring legal options, while the Feb. 17 law ending 287(g) agreements orders existing county pacts to wind down by July 2026.