Over the past few weeks, and in the past year, we've all watched awful scenes unfold in Minneapolis and across the country that truly shock the collective conscience. It’s clear that ICE has transformed into a paramilitary force intent on attacking communities and breaking apart families.

Our local law enforcement agencies should never be put into a position where they partner with ICE to enforce civil immigration laws — that’s why I testified in Annapolis over the past several weeks to support SB 245 and HB 444 to prohibit these local partnerships in Maryland. Right now, eight Maryland counties have these agreements, and five of them signed on just in the past year.

These bills matter because they prevent Maryland law enforcement from being used as a tool for the kind of aggressive federal overreach we're seeing in Minneapolis. They keep our local police focused on local public safety, not federal immigration enforcement. And they help protect our economy and communities.

Immigrants are essential to our state. Nearly 17% of Marylanders are immigrants, and they make up more than one-fifth of our workforce. They are nurses caring for patients, scientists driving innovation, educators shaping our next generations, and workers keeping our food systems and small businesses running.

When policies instill fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities, the effects ripple far beyond individual families. People hesitate to go to work, seek medical care, or participate fully in daily life. Employers lose workers, local economies slow down, and essential services suffer.

Policies that undermine the trust between our communities and our government don't make us safer or stronger. Not only are they inhumane, but they also weaken our workforce, strain critical industries like healthcare, and reduce economic stability at a time when Maryland families and businesses need it most.

Senate Bill 245 and House Bill 444 are about keeping our focus where it belongs: on public safety, economic resilience, and growth. I'm committed to standing up for policies that recognize Maryland's diversity and what our state needs to thrive. 

Thank you for supporting me as we work to build a more just and resilient Maryland.

My very best,

(She, Her, Hers)