This legislative session, Maryland should join other progressive states in eliminating federal 287(g) agreements in our state.

What is a 287(g) agreement?

A 287(g) agreement is a voluntary contract between Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state or local law enforcement entities. Under the agreement, local law enforcement officers are trained and essentially “deputized” as ICE agents to enforce federal immigration laws in their areas of jurisdiction. Federal immigration enforcement is not the responsibility of states, counties, and cities and it is well known that 287(g) agreements promote racial profiling, create fear within immigrant communities, and make our communities less safe. Currently 8 of the 24 counties in Maryland have 287(g) agreements: Allegany, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, St. Mary’s and Washington Counties.

287(g) agreements are harmful:

• They promote racial profiling, and by design, target people with no criminal convictions or low level offenses: 99% of the arrests were Latine people, only 13% of people arrested have committed violent crimes, and 60% of people arrested have no criminal history (SOURCE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via the Deportation Data Project).

• They turn minor interactions with local law enforcement into life-altering situations – detention, deportation, and separation from families.

• They divert local tax dollars away from evidence-based community safety strategies and toward mass deportations.

• They erode public trust in law enforcement — immigrants will not report crime or assist in police investigations if they fear immigration consequences.

The Growing Threat of Trump’s Unconstitutional Actions and Ramp Up of a Masked National Police State

Trump is not only using all of the federal and state resources he can for his mass deportation initiative, he is also using them to undermine our democracy – suppressing and criminalizing American citizens who speak out against his anti-American actions. In an unprecedented move towards authoritarianism, Trump is militarizing the DEA, FBI, US Marshals Service, state and local law enforcement, and State National Guards to carry out his agenda. They are invading our cities with masks on, attacking peaceful protestors, and throwing people into unmarked vehicles. American citizens speaking out against federal hostility are also being arrested and detained.

We believe that participation in 287(g) agreements makes Maryland complicit in undercover human trafficking and human rights abuses. This is not who we are. Marylanders can and must act now to protect our democracy and our values.

One big step towards that goal is to sign this petition to urge Maryland lawmakers and government officials to eliminate federal 287(g) agreements in our state. Numerous states – most recently Delaware – have passed total state-wide bans on these agreements. During this unprecedented attack on our democracy, we cannot consent in advance to threats of unpredictable federal retaliation, or compromise with ICE for a purely symbolic bill that maintains the status quo and leaves 287g intact.

Now is the time for Maryland to join other leading states to protect our immigrant neighbors! Sign this petition today.