The Baltimore City Council on Monday introduced two bills aimed at restricting the presence and activities of federal immigration officials on city-owned property.
The first, modeled on Maryland Senate Bill 001 introduced earlier this year, follows violent incidents involving ICE in Minneapolis, Chicago, and Portland. It calls for a commitment to “humane treatment of immigrant communities and the sanctity of our civil rights,” according to Council President Zeke Cohen, who said it is set for a vote in Tuesday’s public safety committee meeting.
Sponsored by city council members Odette Ramos, Mark Parker, and Paris Gray, the bill calls for the Maryland General Assembly and Gov. Wes Moore to sign legislation prohibiting law enforcement from using face coverings and prohibiting government entities, like prisons and the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), from entering into immigration enforcement agreements.
That’s something already taking place in the Assembly. Last week, both the House and Senate passed their own versions of a ban on 287(g) agreements, deals that give local law enforcement the authority to handle some immigration enforcement.
“This legislation makes sure that BPD will not cooperate with ICE,” Ramos said when the resolution was introduced on Monday. “Our city agencies are well-trained to have plans for if ICE enters our city owned buildings and anywhere that receives city funding.”
The second bill introduced Monday would require city agencies to prepare and implement plans to protect public spaces from ICE enforcement. This includes city offices, schools, libraries, and parks. The legislation also prohibits the use of city resources, personnel, or funds to assist ICE within city limits.
“The harm that this federal administration is causing to our latine and immigrant families is unacceptable,” Ramos said. “They are not just going after the worst of the worse – we don’t want them here anyway – they are going after anyone with a foreign sounding last name and accent or brown looking skin. This is racial profiling.”
Lindsay Eldridge, spokesperson for BPD, said the police department does not engage with ICE operations unless there is direct threat to life, related to a BPD operation that involves immigration statues or are required to work with ICE while executing a warrant. Still, BPD officers are not currently allowed to enforce violations of immigration law.
“When responding to any call for service, the primary objective of BPD officers is to maintain public safety, ensure the rights of all those involved and provide police services to all persons within the City of Baltimore regardless of their Immigration Status,” Eldridge said.
Baltimore Police officers are required to document ICE officers that request their assistance after enforcement activity and check if anyone detained by ICE has a warrant or cause for arrest.
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