Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink (D-Dist 5) has introduced legislation (Bill 38-26) to prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status. The bill would also allow tenants to terminate their lease early if a tenant is being deported, detained or held for more than 30 days pursuant to immigration proceedings, or if the tenant is facing financial hardship because a member of the household has been impacted by immigration proceedings (for example, the family's primary breadwinner has been deported).

This bill is a crucial way to protect tenants and immigrants as ICE detains community members in Montgomery County and nationwide. One-third of Montgomery County residents were born outside of the U.S and around 23% of Montgomery County tenants are severely cost-burdened, paying 50% or more over their income in monthly housing costs. This leaves tenants already unstable and vulnerable when a family member is no longer able to pay rent for any reason, like immigration detention.

The bill already has the support of the majority of the council -- in addition to Councilmember Mink, Councilmembers Will Jawando, Kate Stewart, Dawn Luedtke, Shebra Evans and Laurie-Anne Sayles have co-sponsored the bill. Send a letter to the full council to get the bill over the finish line without any weakening amendments proposed by landlord lobbyists.