DAVID COLLINS IS FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS FOR US FROM ANNAPOLIS. THE BILL IS CALLED THE COMMUNITY TRUST ACT. IT HAS EMERGED AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES. DEMOCRATS HAIL IT AS A MEASURE TO STRENGTHEN DUE PROCESS. REPUBLICANS CONSIDER IT RECKLESS. CECIL CASA HELD EMERGENCY RALLIES AND AGGRESSIVELY LOBBIED LAWMAKERS ALL WEEK. IT WORKED. AND WHAT MANY CONSIDER A STUNNING LAST MINUTE TURNAROUND, THE COMMUNITY TRUST ACT, STUCK IN COMMITTEE, IS NOW ON FAST TRACK FOR PASSAGE, TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT IS WHAT ENHANCES PUBLIC SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT TRUST. UNDER THE BILL, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES CAN’T DETAIN OR PROLONG SOMEONE’S DETENTION FOR ICE UNLESS ICE HAS A WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE. LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED TO PROACTIVELY REACH OUT TO ICE ABOUT SOMEONE’S IMMIGRATION STATUS UNLESS THAT PERSON IS A CONVICTED FELON. TODAY IS A HISTORIC DAY. TODAY IS POWERFUL. TODAY WE ARE ADVANCING THE COMMUNITY TRUST ACT ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE BILL ON THE SENATE FLOOR IS A WATERED DOWN VERSION OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY INTRODUCED. STILL, IT GENERATED SPIRITED DEBATE. THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY IN EVERY ONE OF YOUR COUNTIES AND JURISDICTIONS. THIS IS A DRAMATIC, IN MY VIEW, A DRAMATIC CHANGE TO HOW LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN COMMUNICATE WITH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT CRIMINALS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS TOP OF MIND UNDER THIS LEGISLATION. IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE DUIS, IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, IF YOU’VE BEEN CONVICTED OF MURDER, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND NOTHING ABOUT THIS BILL CHANGES THAT. REGARDLESS OF YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS. THE COMMUNITY TRUST ACT CLOSES A LOOPHOLE. IT’S A COMPANION BILL TO THE BAN ON 287 G AGREEMENTS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR TO NOT BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS IS RECKLESS IDEOLOGY. FINAL PASSAGE IN THE SENATE IS EXPECTED FRIDAY EVENING. THE BILL DOES NOT LIMIT ICE AND CARRYING OUT FEDER
Community Trust Act becomes law in Maryland without governor’s signature
Updated: 9:43 AM EDT May 22, 2026
Immigration legislation that nearly died in the General Assembly will become law without Gov. Wes Moore’s signature.Video above: ICE-related bill expected to pass in surprising change (April)The Community Trust Act generated fierce debate in both chambers. The legislation requires a judge’s order to detain individuals agents believe are in the country illegally.The bill emerged as a top priority for immigrant families. State Democrats said it is a measure to strengthen due process, while Republicans called it reckless.Maryland Gov. Wes Moore released a statement Friday stating his view on local law enforcement as it relates to fighting crime and protecting residents’ constitutional rights.”Maryland will always work with the federal government when that coordination makes our people safer. But we will not let untrained, unqualified, and unaccountable ICE agents deputize our law enforcement officers to do immigration work,” Moore said in his statement. “The Community Trust Act advances an important goal: Keeping local law enforcement focused on the work that has helped drive Maryland’s historic reductions in violent crime, while protecting the constitutional rights of Marylanders.”Moore: ‘This bill presents real implementation challenges’The governor also expressed concerns about implementing the new measure, saying executive action and further work in Session 2027 are needed to address ambiguities around joint investigations.Moore’s statement reads, in part: “This bill presents real implementation challenges that must be addressed through executive action and in next year’s legislative session. Protecting our communities requires seamless coordination among federal, state and local partners, and the bill creates ambiguities around joint investigations that we are working with the attorney general’s office to clarify. Local law enforcement must also retain the flexibility they need to operate within the law, share appropriate information and keep communities safe.”For those reasons, I will allow the Community Trust Act to become law without my signature. I look forward to working with law enforcement leaders, the Legislature, advocates and our federal partners to address these issues and ensure Maryland can protect constitutional rights, maintain trust in our communities and give law enforcement the tools they need to keep people safe.”What the bill calls forUnder the bill, correctional facilities can’t detain or prolong someone’s detention for Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless the agency has a warrant signed by a judge.Law enforcement will be prohibited from proactively reaching out to ICE about someone’s immigration status unless that person is a convicted felon.”At a time when (President) Donald Trump’s ICE has repeatedly spread fear in communities, ripped mothers out of cars, and is arresting 5-year-olds, Maryland has a responsibility to make clear that public safety and civil rights go hand in hand,” Moore said in his statement.The Community Trust Act is considered a companion bill to the ban on 287(g) agreements that was signed by the governor despite pushback from some Maryland sheriffs. The bill prohibits law enforcement from entering into written cooperation agreements with ICE.The bill does not limit ICE’s ability to conduct immigration enforcement.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. —
Immigration legislation that nearly died in the General Assembly will become law without Gov. Wes Moore’s signature.
Video above: ICE-related bill expected to pass in surprising change (April)
The Community Trust Act generated fierce debate in both chambers. The legislation requires a judge’s order to detain individuals agents believe are in the country illegally.
The bill emerged as a top priority for immigrant families. State Democrats said it is a measure to strengthen due process, while Republicans called it reckless.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore released a statement Friday stating his view on local law enforcement as it relates to fighting crime and protecting residents’ constitutional rights.
“Maryland will always work with the federal government when that coordination makes our people safer. But we will not let untrained, unqualified, and unaccountable ICE agents deputize our law enforcement officers to do immigration work,” Moore said in his statement. “The Community Trust Act advances an important goal: Keeping local law enforcement focused on the work that has helped drive Maryland’s historic reductions in violent crime, while protecting the constitutional rights of Marylanders.”
Moore: ‘This bill presents real implementation challenges’
The governor also expressed concerns about implementing the new measure, saying executive action and further work in Session 2027 are needed to address ambiguities around joint investigations.
Moore’s statement reads, in part: “This bill presents real implementation challenges that must be addressed through executive action and in next year’s legislative session. Protecting our communities requires seamless coordination among federal, state and local partners, and the bill creates ambiguities around joint investigations that we are working with the attorney general’s office to clarify. Local law enforcement must also retain the flexibility they need to operate within the law, share appropriate information and keep communities safe.
“For those reasons, I will allow the Community Trust Act to become law without my signature. I look forward to working with law enforcement leaders, the Legislature, advocates and our federal partners to address these issues and ensure Maryland can protect constitutional rights, maintain trust in our communities and give law enforcement the tools they need to keep people safe.”
What the bill calls for
Under the bill, correctional facilities can’t detain or prolong someone’s detention for Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless the agency has a warrant signed by a judge.
Law enforcement will be prohibited from proactively reaching out to ICE about someone’s immigration status unless that person is a convicted felon.
“At a time when (President) Donald Trump’s ICE has repeatedly spread fear in communities, ripped mothers out of cars, and is arresting 5-year-olds, Maryland has a responsibility to make clear that public safety and civil rights go hand in hand,” Moore said in his statement.
The Community Trust Act is considered a companion bill to the ban on 287(g) agreements that was signed by the governor despite pushback from some Maryland sheriffs. The bill prohibits law enforcement from entering into written cooperation agreements with ICE.
The bill does not limit ICE’s ability to conduct immigration enforcement.