On February 27, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judiciary Committee in support of HB 1222 – Public Safety – Immigration Enforcement (Maryland Values Act) with amendments.
This bill would require local detention centers to hold certain detainees at the request of federal immigration authorities for the purpose of transferring the individual to federal custody. The eligible individual is someone unlawfully present in the country and convicted of a crime of violence.
County governments applaud the General Assembly’s willingness to take steps that ensure local communities have the tools they need to protect residents from violent criminals. Creating circumstances that extend that authority, particularly in complicated but qualifying situations, is a welcome adjustment. Having the clear authority outlined in HB 1222 will not
only uphold this crucial principle of public safety, but also allow local governments to leverage federal agency resources to support these common values.
This collaboration is a sensible one, however counties request one amendment to require a signed judicial warrant to authorize the extended detention. HB 1222, as written, mandates a local facility to hold the covered individual following a “request,” but in the absence of a detainer or a signed judicial warrant. Detaining someone beyond their sentence release date with no legally binding document authorizing the detention is a serious concern and has the potential to expose local governments to increased liability.
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