Wicomico County Sheriff joins other local law enforcement in opposing House Bill

WICOMICO CO., Md. – Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis is joining a long list of law enforcement opposing a House Bill that would end a partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

House Bill 1222 looks to end the 287 (g) federal partnership program within the state.

The program allows law enforcement to work with ICE when criminals are arrested.

Right now, only Harford, Frederick and Carroll Counties participate in the program.

However, Sheriff Mike Lewis says the passing of the legislation would have consequences for Wicomico County.

“Once they dissolve the 287 (g) program, we would no longer be allowed to notify ICE in a timely matter of someone who is wanted by their jurisdiction,” said Sheriff Lewis.

The bill also prohibits state and local government entities, including county sheriffs and their agents, from entering into any immigration enforcement agreements.

It also mandates that any existing agreements be terminated by July 1, 2025.

Sheriff Lewis said that could lead to the release of violent and dangerous offenders without notifying ICE.

“Maryland has a list of crimes, a threshold that must be met, and major drug trafficking is not even one of those crimes, so if someone has smuggled eight or ten kilograms of cocaine or fentanyl into the state of Maryland and they have served a sentence either in a prison or a local detention facility, we are not allowed to notify ICE that we are about to release them into society,” said Lewis.

Those in favor of the bill said it would help create trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, and encourage people to report crimes without fear of deportation.