Most citizens called for the elimination of 287g.
Frederick, Md (KM) The 287g program came up during Saturday’s annual public forum held by the Frederick County Legislative Delegation. That program allows the Sheriff’s Office to determine the immigration status of individuals who are arrested and charged, and brought into the Adult Detention Center. If they’re here illegally, they world be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Supporters of the program says it makes Frederick County safer. Deborah Hunley took issue with that. “Many assert that these agreements make our communities. safer. Contrary to this expectation, however, when it comes to community safety and crime, 287g agreements actually make our county more dangerous and not less,” she said. “When citizens and residents can’t trust their local law enforcement, crimes go unreported and our neighborhoods grow less safe.”
Cesar Diaz is a Frederick City Councilman-elect, and he echoed those comments. “When immigrant communities fear any interactions with the Sheriff’s Office can lead to separation from their families, they stop reporting crime. They stop serving as witnesses. They stop trusting the very institutions sworn to protect then,” he said. “Public safety is build on cooperation, not coercion; on trust, not terror.
A woman named Marta has been in the United States since 2007. “I’ve seen so many cases of getting people detained and deported even though they are not criminals,” she says.
Opponents of the these programs say law enforcement working the 287g often target Hispanic communities. Supporters deny that.
Most of the citizens who spoke were against 287g. But there were a few who supported it. One was Tom Brady. “All you have to do is look at the record, just look at the record. And thank God, we have Sheriff {Chuck} Jenkins here who has the knowledge, experience and spine to participate in the program. I am so thankful as a Frederick County resident that we participate in that program,” he said.
Sheriff Jenkins was in the audience at the Delegation Forum, but did not speak about 287g.
Frederick County’s Legislative Package for 2026 contains a position statement calling for the end of cooperative agreements between local law enforcement, and federal immigration authorities such as 287g.
By Kevin McManus