The issue was over the 287g program.
State Senator Karen Lewis Young
Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick County State Senator Karen Lewis Young is responding to comments made about her by Sheriff Chuck Jenkins. Lewis Young says she will be supporting Senate Democrats in the 2026 General Assembly in sponsoring bills to prohibit local police from participating in federal immigration programs such as the 287g.
Speaking earlier this month on WFMD’s “Morning News Express,” Jenkins said Senator Lewis Young doesn’t care about public safety, and that it’s all about politics. He is a strong supporter of 287g.
“Well, I deeply resent that comment. I have a long record caring about and making major efforts toward public health and public safety,”; Lewis Young responds.
Senator Lewis Young says she will be backing Senate President Bill Ferguson’s efforts to get rid of programs like 287g because there’s no data that proves it reduces crime, pointing to a study conducted by the Cato Institute. “And in fact they found no statistically significant relationship where 287gr programs exist, and a reduction in crime,” she said.
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank based in Washington DC.
The Sheriff cites 287g as the reason for Frederick County’s low crime rate compared to surrounding counties. But Lewis Young disputes that. “And in fact the Cato Institute study did show one negative affect that it doesn’t fight crime, but it does increase assaults against police officers,” she said.
The 287g program is a jail-based program. It allows staff at the Detention Center to determine the immigration status of individuals who are arrested and charged. The Sheriff says this program is one reason why there have been no ICE raids in Frederick County compared to other parts of the country.
“I would encourage the Sheriff to look at the data or provide the data to show a statistically significant relationship between 287g program, crime reduction, and whether or not that is the most financially responsible way of reducing crime,” she says.
Senator Lewis Young says the crime rate is low among the immigrant communities. “They try to keep under the radar; they are here to avoid persecution; they just want the opportunity to have a decent living and to have freedom,” she says.
Sheriff Jenkins has said he will fight efforts to eliminate 287g if it comes up the 2026 General Assembly next year.
By Kevin McManus