The recent law banning Maryland police from cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been a divisive force in the state, separating Democratic and Republican politicians ahead of the midterms. Maryland voters also seem divided on the issue, as many hold differing views.
As reported by Maryland Matters, the law signed in February, which prohibited officers from being deputized by ICE, has become a divisive political issue ahead of the elections. Democratic candidates have argued that cooperation with ICE could discourage immigrants from reporting crimes. On the other hand, Republicans argue that ending cooperation with ICE could harm public safety.
The law concerns 287(g) agreements between law enforcement agencies and federal authorities, which can allow local police to check the immigration status of people in jail, issue immigration detainers, begin deportation paperwork, and coordinate actions with ICE officials.
Maryland Residents React to Ban on Cooperation with ICE
The divisive reactions to the ban were echoed by Maryland residents. On Reddit’s r/Maryland, users discussed the measure.
One user said, “I hate both sides on this issue, though not equally. If someone can be validated as a gang member with actual evidence, we should put them on a rocket and fire them off to the surface of the sun. (…) On the other hand, contacting ICE for someone who has lived here for 30 years without issue, has been a good neighbor, and worked hard over a driving on a suspended license charge is absurd.”
Someone else responded, “Someone who has lived here for 30 years has had ample opportunity to become a legal immigrant.”
Others seemed to believe that ICE’s work was entirely unnecessary, saying, “Let’s recall that the immigrant ‘problem’ is a right-wing fabrication. There is no problem to address.” This opinion was supported by others: “Imagine looking at the state of our planet, the economy, education system, healthcare, etc., and coming to the conclusion that our top priority should be ‘brown people are bad.’”
Some other users took a more neutral stance, saying, “States have no say on immigration. It is a purely federal matter.”
In any case, the ban is likely to remain controversial, as Maryland residents continue to hold differing opinions on how to address illegal immigration and the role of immigration enforcement agencies.
