U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen talks immigration to Eastern Shore Delegation

MARYLAND. –  U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke at the most recent Eastern Shore Delegation meeting to talk immigration policies impacting the Eastern Shore.

Maryland Delegate Steven Arentz questioned federal immigration actions. He specifically asked Senator Van Hollen, “What is happening on the federal level we can tell our constituents, this is what our federal representatives are doing to solve this problem?”

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said he thinks this has been an unresolved issue for many years. He mentioned how there were some pushes to make a clear and structured policy years ago.

In 2006 and 2013, Senator John McCain introduced bipartisan bills featuring border security and immigration reform with legal residency provisions for compliant individuals, both of which passed the Senate but were never voted on in the House of Representatives.

Senator Van Hollen explaining how things are in the current political climate.

“I don’t disagree with you that we should have some federal legislation. This is not a partisan statement. This is a fact that the President has said he doesn’t need or want any legislation. He has said that he can do it alone, and has made a big point of that. Which means all the Republicans on Capitol Hill have deferred to the president.”

The state of Maryland has countered ICE with their own legislation called, “The ICE Breaker Act of 2026.” That move is designed to ban ICE agents from working in Maryland state or local law enforcement roles.

As of March 2026, the bill has been discussed in the context of broader efforts to limit ICE, including ending 287(g) agreements in the state.

The Maryland General Assembly continues.