Maryland Bans Federal Immigration Enforcement Agreements
Analysis based on 17 articles · First reported Feb 17, 2026 · Last updated Feb 18, 2026
The new law in United States===Maryland, along with similar actions in other Democratic-led states, signals a shift in immigration enforcement policy, potentially increasing the operational burden on U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and the United States===United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This could lead to increased federal spending on direct enforcement efforts in these states, impacting government budgets and potentially creating new contracts for federal agencies.
United States===Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a law prohibiting immigration enforcement agreements with the federal government, effectively ending the 287(g) program in the state. This program, which deputizes local law enforcement to act as immigration agents, was revived and expanded by President Donald Trump. United States===Maryland's action is part of a broader trend among Democratic-led states, including United States===New Mexico, United States===Maine, and United States===Virginia, to push back against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. While proponents argue the law upholds civil rights, critics like Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins and the United States===United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contend it will make United States===Maryland less safe and increase the workload for federal immigration agents.
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