Baltimore City Council Proposes Bill to Limit Cooperation with ICE

In a move against federal immigration enforcement practices, members of the Baltimore City Council introduced a new bill on Monday designed to limit the city's cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The proposed legislation, sponsored by Council members Paris Gray, Odette Ramos, and Mark Parker, seeks to impose extensive restrictions on city government interactions with federal immigration authorities. Among its key provisions, the bill would prevent the Baltimore Police Department from assisting in federal immigration enforcement actions, unless mandated by state or federal law.

During a news conference prior to the bill's introduction, council members, joined by advocates for the immigrant community, expressed their commitment to safeguarding residents from what they described as unjust harassment and detention by federal agents. “This is an important time for us in the city,” stated Council member Ramos, urging her colleagues to support the initiative.

The legislation aims to prohibit the collection and sharing of data related to individuals' immigration status by city officials and restrict city spending on immigration enforcement activities. Additionally, it would prevent ICE agents from entering city facilities that are not open to the public and disallow the city from entering agreements to detain individuals on immigration-related charges.

In light of recent developments in other Maryland jurisdictions, where there have been efforts to expand immigrant detention capabilities, Baltimore's proposed bill stands out. For instance, officials in Washington County recently announced plans to convert a warehouse into an immigration processing center capable of housing up to 1,500 detainees, while Howard County revoked a permit for a private detention center following community backlash.

Furthermore, the legislation would make it illegal for city officials to inquire about an individual’s immigration status unless legally required and would mandate that police document any interactions with ICE on body cameras. Council members voiced concerns about the impact of federal enforcement tactics on community safety, arguing that fear of deportation discourages residents from engaging with public services.

Mayor Brandon Scott, while critical of aggressive immigration tactics, has yet to endorse the proposed legislation. He emphasized that the city is already taking steps to ensure that services remain accessible to all residents, regardless of immigration status. Scott stated that he would monitor the bill's progress as it moves through the council.

The introduction of this legislation reflects a broader trend in Maryland, where local governments are increasingly seeking to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Reported by HarborBeat based on thebanner.com (source).