MD House Advances HB 444 which Bans Local Law Enforcement from 287g Agreements with Federal Immigration Authorities

The Maryland House of Delegates Monday voted to advance House Bill 444, which will ban local law enforcement from entering into 287g agreements with federal immigration authorities to notify them when an incarcerated individual is not legally present in the US. House Republicans in a statement say this will not keep citizens safe and that the majority party has opted to put politics over public safety.

The bill will be up for final debate and vote later this week.

“It is our duty as legislators to do everything in our power to keep our citizens safe,” said Delegate Buckel. “Eliminating 287g does the opposite of that. This program is not about going door to door or street to street tracking down undocumented people who are going about their business, working, and raising their families – that is not what we want. This program is about notifying immigration authorities that an individual, who is already in custody for committing a crime, is in the country illegally. If immigration enforcement decides to pick them up, they do so in a controlled and safe environment.”

“The majority party has chosen to put politics over public safety,” said Pippy. “They are using the national climate to advance legislation that takes away an important tool our law enforcement utilizes to get violent criminals out of our country.”