Maryland Sheriffs Call for Legislative Restraint Amid Debates on New Immigration Enforcement Restrictions

Maryland law enforcement leaders testify against proposed state bills that would further restrict local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 5:59 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Maryland Matters.

Law Enforcement Testifies Against Proposed Enforcement Caps

A group of Maryland sheriffs appeared before House and Senate committees on February 26, 2026, to express formal opposition to a new suite of immigration related bills. The law enforcement leaders argued that existing state laws already provide significant protections for immigrant communities and that further restrictions would be counterproductive. The primary concern cited by the sheriffs is the potential loss of discretionary power when handling individuals who may pose a legitimate threat to local public safety.

The testimony highlighted a growing divide between the state’s progressive legislative goals and the operational realities of county law enforcement. Sheriffs from several jurisdictions noted that their departments do not engage in proactive immigration sweeps but require the ability to communicate with federal partners in specific criminal contexts. They warned that the proposed "restraint" measures could inadvertently protect high level offenders by prohibiting the sharing of basic administrative data.

Expanding the Dignity Not Detention Framework

The current legislative push seeks to build upon the Dignity Not Detention Act passed in 2021, which prevented Maryland counties from entering into new contracts to house federal immigration detainees. The new proposals would go a step further by banning local law enforcement from honoring "civil detainers" or notifying federal agents about the release dates of specific individuals unless a judicial warrant is present. Supporters of the bill argue these steps are necessary to build trust between the police and immigrant residents.

Advocates testifying in favor of the limits pointed to the "chilling effect" that cooperation with federal authorities has on crime reporting within immigrant neighborhoods. They argued that when local police act as an arm of federal enforcement, victims of domestic violence or witnesses to crimes become too fearful to contact authorities. The proposed laws are designed to create a "bright line" between local public safety duties and federal civil immigration matters.