Immigration

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 985: Correctional Services - Immigration Detention Facilities - Minimum Mandatory Standards

SB 985 requires Maryland's Secretary of Public Safety to establish minimum mandatory standards for immigration detention facilities, directly affecting people held for immigration violations (civil detainees) and the facilities housing them. The bill mandates standards covering security, safety, food, housing, sanitation, and individual rights, while creating new reporting obligations for health care workers and security guards who must report violations to the Commission on Correctional Standards. It grants the Commission expanded authority to inspect facilities, enforce compliance, shut down life-threatening facilities, and require disciplinary action against non-reporting staff. The law also updates reporting requirements for facility operators and authorizes the Attorney General to sue private facility operators for violations.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationMandates minimum standards for detention facilities covering individual rights, safety, and reporting violations, directly protecting immigrant detainees' rights in state custody.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 832: Public Safety - State Law Enforcement Agencies - Hiring Restriction (ICE Breaker Act)

HB 832, the "ICE Breaker Act," prohibits Maryland state law enforcement agencies from hiring individuals who were hired as sworn officers by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on or after January 20, 2025. It applies specifically to agencies defined in the bill, including the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and others listed in Section 3-535 of the Maryland Annotated Code. The law only affects new hires after its effective date (October 1, 2026), with no retroactive application to current employees hired before that date. The bill creates a clear hiring restriction for these state agencies regarding individuals with recent ICE employment.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits state hiring of ICE officers, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1018: Correctional Services - Correctional Facilities and Immigration Detention Facilities - Minimum Mandatory Standards

HB 1018 establishes minimum mandatory standards for the care, custody, and conditions of individuals held in Maryland's immigration detention facilities. It directly affects immigration detainees, facility operators (including private entities), and healthcare/security staff who must report violations. Key provisions require the Secretary of Public Safety to adopt regulations covering safety, housing, food, and rights; mandate facility inspections and annual certifications; and authorize the Commission to shut down facilities deemed life-threatening or health-endangering. The bill also obligates staff to report violations with disciplinary consequences for non-compliance and allows the Attorney General to sue private facility operators for violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes mandatory standards for immigration detention facilities' safety, housing, and rights protections, enhancing oversight and conditions in correctional settings.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationEstablishes mandatory standards for detainee care, safety, housing, and rights in immigration facilities, directly protecting immigrant rights within detention95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1536: Maryland Enforcement Limits and Transparency (MELT) Act

HB 1536, the Maryland Enforcement Limits and Transparency (MELT) Act, prohibits state and local government entities, including sheriffs and contractors, from voluntarily aiding immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant or legal requirement. It requires these entities to document all interactions with immigration authorities, maintain records for five years, and notify individuals whose information was shared. Victims harmed by violations can sue for damages, while the Attorney General can investigate, publish findings, and refer cases to licensing authorities. The law also allows state procurement agencies to terminate contracts with violators and licensing bodies to sanction licensees who breach the act.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement cooperation with immigration without warrants, enhancing accountability and civil rights protections in criminal justice enforcement.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits state/local entities from voluntarily aiding federal immigration enforcement without warrant, limiting cooperation and protecting immigrant rights per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1575: Correctional Services and Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement - Prohibitions (Community Trust Act)

HB 1575, the Community Trust Act, prohibits state and local correctional facilities and their employees from detaining individuals or sharing information with federal immigration authorities based on immigration status, except when required by a judicial warrant or for routine booking. It bans asking about citizenship, prolonging detention for immigration reasons, transferring individuals to immigration authorities without a warrant, or coercing people based on immigration status. Exceptions include when immigration status relates to legal protections under state/federal law or international treaties, allowing facilities to notify individuals or offer voluntary disclosure. Correctional facilities must adopt policies with penalties for violations, and affected individuals can seek damages or injunctions if harmed by a breach.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits correctional facilities from detaining/sharing immigration status with federal authorities, protecting civil rights and reducing immigration-related coercion in criminal justice system.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits state facilities from detaining/sharing immigration status with federal authorities, limiting cooperation and protecting immigrants from state-level enforcement actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 7, 2026

HB 1458: State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Refugees and Asylees - Establishment

HB 1458 establishes Maryland's State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Refugees and Asylees, providing food assistance to specific groups who lost federal SNAP eligibility after July 3, 2025. The program directly affects refugees, asylees, parolees (including Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees), and other noncitizens who met SNAP eligibility requirements under pre-2025 federal rules but became ineligible due to changes in federal law. It requires the Maryland Department of Human Services to administer the program using the same eligibility standards that were in effect on July 3, 2025, ensuring households with qualifying individuals receive benefits. The program takes effect July 1, 2026, restoring access to nutrition assistance for affected individuals.

Topics ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationEstablishes state food assistance for refugees/asylees ineligible under new federal rules, directly providing essential services to affected immigrant groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Refugees & Asylum

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1017: Correctional Services - Private Detention Facilities - Zoning Requirement

HB 1017 prohibits Maryland state or local governments from approving private entities to operate immigration detention facilities unless the facility’s use is explicitly permitted under applicable zoning laws. It defines such facilities as buildings housing individuals for immigration violations (including those with security features like perimeter fencing or locked areas), and clarifies that general "government/institutional" zoning does not cover them. Private operators violating this face civil penalties up to $10,000 per day, and the Attorney General can enforce the law through court actions. The law applies retroactively to existing agreements for facilities intended for immigration detention, regardless of prior permits or investments.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationProhibits private immigration detention facilities without explicit zoning approval, restricting enforcement infrastructure and limiting state/local cooperation with federal immigration detention systems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 792: Hospitals - Immigration Enforcement Action - Policy Requirement

SB 792 requires the State Health Services Cost Review Commission to create and publish a model policy for hospitals regarding immigration enforcement actions. It also mandates that certain hospitals in Maryland develop their own policies based on this model. The bill amends specific sections of Maryland's health code to implement these requirements, focusing on standardizing how hospitals address immigration enforcement within their facilities. This directly affects designated hospitals by making written policies on immigration enforcement a formal requirement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to develop policies protecting patients from immigration enforcement during care, directly safeguarding patient access and rights within healthcare facilities.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationMandates hospitals to develop policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, protecting immigrant patients within healthcare settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 504: Data Privacy - Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy Act)

SB 504 prohibits businesses from selling consumer personal data to buyers who intend to use it for immigration enforcement. It defines "sensitive data" to include immigration status, racial origin, health information, and sexual orientation, requiring businesses to handle such data more carefully. The bill also mandates public record custodians to prevent unauthorized disclosure - especially for immigration enforcement - and requires message switching systems to implement access controls. These changes aim to strengthen privacy protections for Maryland residents while modifying existing data privacy laws in the state code.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly classifies health information as 'sensitive data' requiring careful handling, protecting patient privacy through data safeguards without restricting healthcare access or funding.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits selling immigration status data to enforcement agencies, limiting federal cooperation and protecting immigrant privacy per bill's data handling requirements.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProhibits selling sensitive consumer data for immigration enforcement, defines sensitive data categories, mandates stricter handling and access controls - directly strengthens data privacy protections in technology policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Enforcement Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy Tags Privacy

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1341: Immigration Enforcement - Expanding Sensitive Locations, Notification, and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)

HB 1341 prohibits public school security personnel - including school resource officers, security employees, and certain law enforcement officers - from engaging in federal immigration enforcement or sharing student/employee records for immigration purposes. The bill requires security staff to immediately contact school officials if presented with a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or legal order for immigration-related information. It amends Maryland's Education Code to clarify that school security cannot be used for immigration investigations under federal §287(G) and must comply with state privacy laws. This directly affects school security staff and protects students, employees, and their families from immigration enforcement activities within public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits school security from engaging in immigration enforcement, protecting immigrant students' access to schools and creating safer educational environments.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits school staff from engaging in federal immigration enforcement and sharing student records, limiting state cooperation with federal immigration efforts per Maryland Values Act.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill prohibits sharing student records for immigration without warrant, protecting data privacy per technology topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Driver Licenses & IDs Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

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