Maryland counties divided on ICE cooperation as Virginia issues new statewide policy

MARYLAND—Whiletheysitsidebysideonamap,MarylandandVirginiapoliticiansstandfarapartontheissueofimmigration. Overtheweekend,VirginiaGov.GlennYoungkinissuedanexecutiveorderpledging“fullcooperation”withfederalimmigrationefforts. Youngkinargues,“Dangerouscriminalillegalimmigrantsshouldnotbeletbackintoourcommunitiestoassault,rapeandmurder.”HeisnowdemandinglocaldetentioncentersreportdetaineestoImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement(ICE). Youngkin’salsoinstructinglocallawenforcementtocomplywithICE’s‘287-G’program,whichgivesstatepolicetheauthoritytoarrestundocumentedimmigrationswithICEoversight. Meanwhile,inMaryland,onlyCecil,Frederick,andHarfordcountiesparticipateintheprogram.That’sbecausewithnostatewidepoliciesinplace,andcooperationvariesbyeachcounty. Maryland’sICEDirectorMathewEllistonclaimsinplaceslikePrinceGeorge’sandHowardcounties,anycooperationwithICEisprohibited. “Their