The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially designated several areas in Maryland as sanctuary jurisdictions, igniting tensions between federal immigration authorities and local governments. The agency’s announcement follows President Donald J. Trump’s executive order mandating federal action against jurisdictions that allegedly obstruct immigration law enforcement. However, local jurisdictions including Baltimore City and Montgomery County, disagree with that assessment.
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Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott responded by distancing the city from the sanctuary label, emphasizing that Baltimore lacks jurisdiction over its jails and complies with its limited federal immigration obligations. However, Scott reaffirmed Baltimore’s stance as a welcoming city and expressed a commitment to protecting immigrant residents. Meanwhile, Montgomery County and Howard County, both listed by DHS, have not released new statements. Previously this year, Montgomery County clarified that it does not inquire about immigration status and cooperates with federal agencies through state information-sharing protocols, distancing itself from the sanctuary label. Howard County had already terminated its ICE detention contract in 2021, affirming its policy to avoid immigration status inquiries by county employees under its Liberty Act.
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Takoma Park, another jurisdiction cited by DHS, previously released a 2007 legal analysis which concluded that its sanctuary ordinance is consistent with federal law and does not impede federal immigration authorities from executing their duties. The analysis stressed that while Takoma Park’s policies limit city resources from being used in immigration enforcement, they do not prevent federal action, thus avoiding direct conflict with federal statutes.
At the time of publication, no additional statements from elected officials in other listed Maryland jurisdictions were immediately available. The DHS indicated that jurisdictions named will be formally notified and expected to amend their policies to conform with federal immigration laws, a move likely to escalate the friction between local and federal authorities in the coming months.
Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, City of Baltimore Press Release, Montgomery County Website, Howard County Website, and the City of Takoma Park Website.
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