Maryland’s two most populous counties are moving aggressively to limit ICE operations within their jurisdictions, introducing a combined slate of bills that would ban detention centers, restrict agent access to public buildings, and — in Montgomery County — prohibit law enforcement from wearing face coverings during enforcement actions.
What happened
Montgomery County Councilmember Evan Glass led the full Council to introduce the ICE Out Act (Bill 13-26) on March 3 — a bill that would bar privately owned immigration detention centers from operating anywhere in the county. The same week, Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha introduced a six-bill legislative package targeting ICE operations across the county.
The Prince George’s package includes CB5-2026, which bans future county employment for individuals who work for ICE or Customs and Border Protection after June 30, 2025, and CB6-2026, which restricts use of county property for immigration enforcement and adds additional limits on cooperation with federal immigration agents.
In Montgomery County, the legislative push goes further. Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kristin Mink separately introduced:
- The County Values Act (Bill 3-26) — requires all county facilities to demand a judicial warrant before allowing ICE access to non-public areas, mandates signage barring ICE entry, prohibits immigration enforcement in county parking lots and garages, and requires staff to report enforcement activity.
- The Unmask ICE Act (Bill 5-26) — prohibits masking by all law enforcement operating in the county, including ICE agents, with narrow exceptions for public health and operational needs.
Both Montgomery County bills have broad co-sponsor support from seven of the council’s nine members.
Why it matters
Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are home to some of the largest immigrant communities in the entire DMV. For these communities, the legislation represents a tangible shield at the local level against federal enforcement that has escalated sharply since 2025.
The coordinated timing is significant. Two of the state’s largest jurisdictions moving simultaneously sends a political signal — both to the Trump administration and to other Maryland counties — that the suburban DMV corridor is drawing a line on immigration enforcement within its borders.
The face-covering ban in Montgomery County responds directly to community complaints about masked ICE agents conducting enforcement operations in neighborhoods, schools, and courthouses — a practice that has generated widespread fear and confusion.
What’s next
Both counties’ bills will move through committee hearings in coming weeks. In Montgomery County, the broad co-sponsor support suggests the legislation has enough votes to pass. In Prince George’s, eight of eleven councilmembers appeared at the package’s press conference, and the council is widely expected to pass the bills — though the timeline for each of the six measures remains less defined.
Also read Virginia ICE Arrests Surged 7x in 2025 as 287(g) Agreements Spread Across the State
This TANTVNews immigration coverage was made possible by a grant from URL Collective, a nonprofit supporting local, diverse media.
