By Tashi McQueen and Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writers
tmcqueen@afro.com
msayles@afro.com
The Maryland General Assembly passed emergency legislation aimed at limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and banning most law enforcement officers from wearing masks while performing routine duties, as protests grow statewide against federal immigration enforcement.
Lawmakers approved companion bills in both chambers on Feb. 3 to end 287(g) agreements, partnerships that allow local and state police to work with ICE, and restrict law enforcement masking. Though the Senate has passed its bill on masking out of its chamber, the House equivalent HB 155, has not yet been passed in the House.
Supporters say the measures are designed to protect immigrant communities and preserve public trust in policing amid a national crackdown on immigration.
Both the House and the Senate still must approve the other’s bills in order for it to reach the governor’s desk, whereupon his signature will put them immediately into effect.
Senate President William “Bill” Ferguson (D-Md. 46) said the legislation responds to years of work rebuilding trust between law enforcement and communities, particularly in Baltimore.
“Over the last 10 years, particularly in the City of Baltimore, we were really on the front edge of having to confront the real challenging issues of a lack of trust between law enforcement and the community that they serve,” said Ferguson. “We have spent 10 years trying to implement policy to enhance the relationship between our law enforcement community and our broader community.”
Ferguson said those efforts have coincided with historic reductions in violence. Statewide, homicides dropped 25 percent, the lowest level in nearly 40 years. In Baltimore, homicides totaled 133 at the end of 2025, the lowest in almost 50 years. He credited the federal consent decree with the Baltimore Police Department and policies that increased transparency.
“What ICE is doing undermines all of that,” he said. “Not just in what horrifically happened in Minnesota, but what we’re seeing across the country with masked agents pulling people out of houses and cars.”
One bill, SB 1, limits the ability of ICE agents and other law enforcement officers to wear masks during everyday enforcement activities, with exceptions for health, safety and religious reasons.
“There are certain exceptions for health and safety and religious reasons, but what I fundamentally believe is that masked law enforcement, anonymous law enforcement, is a key way to destroy and erode trust,” said Ferguson.“The way that ICE is operating in its everyday practice with masked, unidentified officers is the very core of fear that destroys a society. We are doing whatever we can to stop it.”
The second Senate measure, SB 245, ends 287(g) agreements statewide.
“We do not believe that Maryland should have enhanced partnerships with a law enforcement agency that is operating in the way that ICE has been operating,” said Ferguson.“We do not believe local jurisdictions should be engaged in those partnerships.”
House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D-Md.-21) spoke on the success of these bills and the progress of similar legislative initiatives that are top priorities this session.
“We came in this session saying that the House is focused on three priorities: Affordability, Accountability and Opportunity,” said Melnyk in a statement via Facebook. “This week, we are making down payments on this agenda. We are holding ICE accountable. We passed HB 444 today to ban local law enforcement from cooperative agreements with ICE. There is serious work to be done and we are serious about doing it.”
Delegate Nicole Williams (D-Md. 22), sponsor of House bill 444 which bans 287(g) agreements, called the vote a “tremendous step forward” in a social media post.
“As our federal government relentlessly attacks immigrant families, here in Maryland we are saying, ‘no more,’” wrote Williams on Instagram. “Let us be clear, 287(g) agreements do not make our community safer and, instead, breed mistrust and fear of law enforcement.”
Immigration advocacy groups praised the legislation as a major victory. We Are CASA, which has pushed to end 287(g) agreements for nearly a decade, called the bills historic.
“Today, Maryland legislators chose families over fear, and community trust over collaboration with a harmful deportation machine,” said Ama Frimpong, legal director of We Are CASA. “This victory shouts a clear message: Not in Maryland.”
Cathryn Jackson, the group’s policy director, said the legislation was long overdue but not the end of the fight.
“Ending this program is an important, necessary, and long-overdue win,” said Jackson. “But no one should mistake it for the finish line.”
Though protestors have called for government action, some still believe that people should not be reliant on political action alone for progress. At a Jan. 30 protest against ICE in Baltimore, Towson University student Colin Wade shared his thoughts on the matter.
“Let’s try not to rely on our governments and focus on what we can do on the ground,” said Wade, 21. “There’s so many people scared right now, just looking for allies and people who care. We’re out here; people care.”