ICE Enforcement Undermines Maryland's Community Trust

The high-profile deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed recently by ICE agents in Minneapolis, have rightly led to widespread protests. Though the Trump administration is trying to justify their actions by saying that they are targeting “the worst of the worst,” many Americans now realize that ICE is creating more dangerous, not safer, cities and neighborhoods. Amid this backlash, legislators are looking for effective ways to counter the out-of-control immigration raids.

Here in Maryland, our state leaders have quickly landed on one compelling strategy: prohibit state and local agencies in Maryland from entering into agreements with ICE in their immigration enforcement activities. As the bills advancing that approach, S.B. 245/H.B. 444, quickly move forward in the Senate and House, respectively, our legislators should rest assured that social science research is on their side.