They called for support for bills in the 2026 General Assembly to prohibit the program in Maryland.
Frederick, Md (KM) A number of citizens spoke out against the 278g program Wednesday night during a legislative town hall meeting at Winchester Hall. That’s where police agencies, working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, can determine the immigration status of those they arrest. If they’re here illegally, they turned over to federal authorities.
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office participates in 287g, along with the Sheriff’s Offices in Washington and Carroll Counties.
Speakers at Wednesday’s meeting, such as Debra Hensley, urged elected officials to support bills in the 2026 General Assembly to prohibit 287g agreements with local law enforcement in Maryland. “When it comes to community safety and crime, these agreements actually make our counties more dangerous, not less,” she said. “When citizens and residents can’t trust their local police, crimes go unreported., and our neighborhoods grow less safe.”
Christian Benford says he’s a first-generation American. “287g program deputizes local law enforcement to act on behalf of ICE. A program that statewide overwhelmingly detains those who have either had no criminal convictions. only minor misdemeanors.,” he said. “They are targeting everybody. Their fear is not unfounded.”
But the strongest criticism of the 287g program came form Richard “Kap” Kaplowitz. “If you can repel down from a helicopter on to the roof of an apartment building in Chicago, and put three-year-olds in zip ties, it is past time to shut down the gestapo tactics of the orange fascist, the Nazi Stephan Miller and the rest of them, and get rid of 287g,” he said.
Speakers also pointed out that Delaware and other states have prohibited their law enforcement agencies from signing 287g contracts with ICE.
By Kevin McManus