Two Baltimore County Council bills that seek to protect people who are not citizens from discrimination and certain immigration enforcement actions are sparking strong feelings on both sides of the aisle.
Introduced in December by Councilman Izzy Patoka, a Pikesville Democrat and candidate for county executive, one bill would place restrictions on the county’s enforcement of federal immigration laws and protect confidential information about a person’s immigration status. A second bill would codify the immigrant affairs office within the county executive’s office.
“We need trust in our communities, and we don’t have it now with the Trump administration and how he has empowered ICE to act across this country, and we’re not going to let that happen in Baltimore County,” Patoka said at a rally in Towson on Tuesday afternoon. “This really is about action, because we have choices in life. We can either be spectators in life — we as elected officials could come in and bide our time and watch things go by but not act. But here, we are required to act. We can’t just watch Renee Nicole Good be executed in a public street.”
Councilman Julian Jones, a Democrat from Woodstock and county executive candidate, is cosponsoring the bill package.
More than two dozen people testified on the measures at a lengthy council work session Tuesday evening, most of whom voiced support for the guardrails and codification of the immigrant affairs office.
Daniella Prieshoff, senior managing attorney for the Tahirih Justice Center, which supports women, girls and immigrant survivors of gender-based violence, said one of the center’s clients fears seeking a protective order over custody of her two children, who are citizens, because she’s worried about being detained in court.
“Although we value the years of wonderful support from local law enforcement in protecting immigrant survivors in Baltimore County, survivors residing in the county are uncertain about whether that protection will stand in light of increasing trends of collaborations between local and federal government agencies to enforce federal immigration laws, even though the federal government alone has the authority to enforce such laws,” Prieshoff said. “When immigrant survivors of crimes fear calling police, it not only makes them less safe, but it makes the entire community and the county less safe.”
Under the legislation, county employees and agencies would be prohibited from helping immigration enforcement agencies investigate or arrest a person for civil or criminal violations of immigration regulations unless required by state or federal law. County employees also would not be allowed to discriminate against, ask about or disclose a person’s citizenship, nationality or immigration status.
However, the measure would still allow the Baltimore County Police Department to help a federal agency investigate criminal activity other than immigration law violations. The department would also be allowed to work on task forces looking into criminal activity, even if the group includes an immigration enforcement agency, as long as county resources aren’t used for civil immigration enforcement.
The county’s police department would not be allowed to ask about or disclose information about a person’s citizenship, nationality or immigration status to other local, state or federal agencies.
However, Baltimore County “does not enforce immigration laws or ask about immigration or citizenship status unless required by state or federal law,” said Dakarai Turner, a spokesman for County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. The legislation outlining protections for non-U.S. citizens would not change the county’s policies or operations in any way, he said.
Last spring, the county administration issued a guide and training to staff about interactions with federal law enforcement, Turner said. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown also issued guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies on the same subject.
Tim Fazenbaker, a Republican candidate for county council in the new District 9, pointed to the stories of three Maryland women who were killed by people who entered the country illegally: Rachel Morin, Dacara Thompson and Kayla Hamilton.
“These women, our neighbors, our daughters, deserve protection,” he said. “How many more Maryland families must endure such unimaginable loss before we say none? This bill would tie the hands of law enforcement, make it harder to prevent these tragedies. Out of love for our citizens, we must reject it.”
Patoka asked Fazenbaker to “take his campaign out of these chambers,” which drew applause from multiple people seated in the room.
“You’re a traitor to your people,” Fazenbaker replied.
Immigrants compose more than 12% of Baltimore County’s population, according to a 2024 executive order issued by former County Executive Johnny Olszewski. Multiple people who spoke Tuesday said they were immigrants or were children of immigrants. Several others work for immigrant-focused organizations. Patoka’s parents were also immigrants and Holocaust survivors.
To Wilmer Menjivar, an immigrant and junior at Woodlawn High School who dreams of becoming a pilot, immigration is not just a physical journey — it’s a journey that moves toward hope, opportunity and a desire to contribute to the community.
“We are not here to be invisible; we are here to be heard. We want a system that respects our rights as students and as human beings,” he said. “Education is a tool to build a future where everyone can thrive. We fight for an environment where every young immigrant can study without fear, where stories of value and where our contributions are recognized.”
The bills will be discussed again at the council’s work session Jan. 27. The council is expected to vote on the legislation Feb. 2.
Have a news tip? Contact Natalie Jones at najones@baltsun.com.