Wicomico County Executive Joins Maryland Leaders Calling on Gov Moore to Veto 287(g) Emergency Legislation

Wicomico County Executive Julie Giordano joined fellow Maryland leaders and impacted families at a press conference at the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Monday to address pending state legislation concerning 287(g) agreements and cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Governor Wes Moore is expected to sign into law emergency legislation (Senate Bill 245 and House Bill 444) recently passed by the Maryland General Assembly that would prohibit 287(g) agreements and limit cooperation between local governments, law enforcement agencies, and ICE.  

Giordano was joined by Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler, Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, Patti Morin — the mother of Rachel Morin — and others to respectfully call on Governor Wes Moore to veto the legislation, citing concerns about public safety and local law enforcement partnerships.  

Rachel Morin, was murdered in 2023 while hiking on a trail in Harford County by Victor Martinez-Hernandez, from El Salvador who had ties to gang and illegally crossed the border into the US in 2023.  Martinez-Hernandez was also wanted for murder in his home country.  

Sheriff Gahler also read a statement from Tammy Nobles, who is the mother of 20 year old Kayla Hamilton of Aberdeen, who was murdered in her home by 17 year old Walter Javier Martinez, a Unaccompanied Alien Child who had been released to a sponsor by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before background checks were completed. Martinez, who had a criminal history and gang affiliation with MS-13, later admitted to multiple murders, rapes, and other violent crimes.