Maryland sheriffs vowed to fight legislation, passed early in this year’s legislative session, prohibiting formal agreements between local police agencies and federal immigration officials, and giving sheriff’s departments 90 days to get out of any deal they were in.

But as the 90-day clock expires Monday, it turns out that at least seven of the nine counties that had the so-called 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement have pulled out of those plans and an eighth said the agreement will not be enforced, even though it’s still on the books.

Most of the local departments dropped the 287(G) agreements either the same day or the day after Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed Senate Bill 245 and House Bill 444 into law Feb. 17. The emergency legislation took effect immediately upon his signature.

While they appear to have given up the 287(g) fight, however, sheriffs are still assessing a challenge to another immigration bill that passed during the waning hours on the last day of this year’s session: the Community Trust Act. It is one of several immigration enforcement bills the governor has yet to sign, with just one more bill signing scheduled for May 26.

The majority Democratic legislature and the supporters of the 287(g) ban argue it eliminates and distrust of police in communities where aggressive immigration tactics have been conducted and enforced by President Donald Trump (R) and his administration.

As of Sunday, according to ICE, the agency had 1,832 law enforcement agencies in 39 states and two U.S. territories signed on to participate in the 287(g) program. Seven of the nine Maryland counties – Allegany, Carroll, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, St. Mary’s and Wicomico – already informed the agency they had to terminate their partnerships due to the passage of the law.

“I thank you for your partnership since 2019 and your efforts to help me keep our communities safer,” wrote Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams in a Feb. 17 letter addressed to Vernon Liggins, acting field office director in the Baltimore ICE office.

But the agency’s website lists two Maryland counties still participating: Garrett and Washington.

A representative from the Garrett County Sheriff Office didn’t respond to requests for comment Friday.

Washington County Sheriff Brian Albert said that because the 287(g) ban took effect immediately, the agreement “is pretty much null and void. We’re not participating in the 287(g) program. We just don’t have a lot of people with detainers on them that are processing through the jail. There’s not a large immigrant community here in Washington County.”

But Albert and some other sheriffs are assessing legal advice about the Community Trust Act.

Senate Bill 791, sponsored by Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Anne Arundel and Howard), which was made an emergency measure, would prohibit local or state police from holding a person for ICE, except in limited scenarios: If a person was convicted of a felony in the United States; is a registered sex offender; served between 12 to 18 months in a state prison; or committed an offense in another state and served at least five years in prison.

A major part of the bill requires federal officials to present a judicial warrant to hold someone, not just an administrative warrant.

One of the main complaints from Republican lawmakers and some sheriffs is the act will not only decrease cooperation with federal officials, but also force law enforcement agencies to follow both federal and state law they say conflict with each other.

“We’re sworn to uphold the constitution of the United States and the state of Maryland. The Community Trust Act puts us in a very tough predicament,” Albert said.

‘Have some standing’

Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler posted a video April 15 on social media urging the governor to veto the Community Trust Act.

“This legislation is a direct assault on public safety. It officially bans our law enforcement and correctional officers from communicating with our federal partners at the Department of Homeland Security,” Gahler said in video.

He reiterated that point said in an interview Thursday.

“The governor hasn’t signed it. We’re waiting on [whether] if he vetoes it, or allows it to become law after 30 days if he doesn’t veto it or sign it,” Gahler said. “We have talked with attorneys. We think we might have some standing. I hope we don’t get there. I hope he does the right thing and vetoes this terrible bill.”

Another immigration-related bill awaiting the governor’s signature is the Data Privacy Act, which seeks to close loopholes in the state’s Public Information Act and prohibit a business from selling personal data of an individual “for the purpose of immigration enforcement.”

“The signing of these bills are going to be career defining for our governor and going to mark his legacy on immigration at a time when our communities are under attack,” said Cathryn Jackson, policy director for We Are CASA.

As for the 287(g) legislation advocates pushed for more than a decade to get, Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s) said “it’s a big deal.”

“It’s just really unfortunate we are in this political climate we are in today with a federal administration in trying to prevent people from obtaining the American dream,” said Williams, who sponsored the House version of the 287(g) legislation.

“It’s about people who are searching for a better life for their family. When we talk about American exceptionalism, our immigration system is a part of that,” she said.

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: editor@marylandmatters.org.

The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) is denying President Trump’s claim that the state “just had 500,000 Fake Mail-In Ballots revealed,” saying that no “fake ballots” were distributed.

The SBE previously acknowledged an error by its mail-in ballot vendor that resulted in some voters receiving the wrong party ballot for the gubernatorial primary election. The president, in response, claimed on social media that Maryland “just had 500,000 Fake Mail-In Ballots revealed” and pushed for the passage of the Save America Act.

Maryland SBE mailed some voters the wrong ballots

The SBE said that more than 500,000 Maryland voters requested mail-in ballots. According to the SBE, the error only affects voters who were mailed a ballot before May 14, 2026.

However, the SBE said that while it is possible that “only a small number” of voters received the wrong ballot, because of the error, all voters must be sent a replacement ballot.

The board of elections said it is working with the vendor to send those replacement mail-in ballots.   

Voters who requested and received their mail-in ballot online to print at home will not be impacted, according to the SBE. All impacted voters will be notified.   

The Maryland primaries will be held on June 23, 2026.

After the error was acknowledged, Mr. Trump wrote on Saturday, “Maryland just had 500,000 Fake Mail-In Ballots revealed. We cannot, as a Country, put up with this any longer!!! Voter I.D., and Proof of Citizenship, must be approved, NOW. Crooked Mail-In Voting must be stopped!!! PUT IT ALL IN THE HOUSING AND FISA BILLS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”  

Jared DeMarinis, the Maryland State Administrator of Elections, told CBS News Baltimore that “I want to assure the President, voters, and the public that NO Fake Mail-in ballots were distributed.”

He added that the trusted source on election results is the State Board of Elections, “rather than a social media influencer.”

“The wording in President Trump’s post regarding Maryland’s election seeks to mislead, sow distrust, and create misinformation,” DeMarinis said.  

DeMarinis said the SBE issued a statement acknowledging an error, and it continues to move quickly to engage all affected and concerned voters.

“The action taken for reissuance of ballots eliminates any doubt about the integrity or accuracy of mail-in voting,”  DeMarinis said. “Maryland’s elections are verified, secure, and transparent. Mail-in voting is, and will remain, an integral part of the electoral process. Every eligible voter will get a chance to cast their ballot in their chosen manner and every voice will be heard.”

What is the Save America Act?

The SAVE America Act, or the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 30, 2026.

The bill would require voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering, and would implement photo identification requirements for voting.

The bill would also prevent states from accepting and processing voting applications to register in a federal election unless the voter presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

Proponents of the bill say it is aimed at preventing noncitizens from casting ballots. Some experts, however, say the bill could affect millions of Americans who don’t have access to certain documents, like a passport or their birth certificate, or who have changed their names. 

Thousands of Maryland voters are getting new primary election ballots in the mail because of an error in the first batch.

The State Board of Elections said some voters received the wrong party’s ballot because of a vendor error.

“It is possible only a small number of voters received the wrong ballot, and most voters received the correct ballot,” the board of elections said in a statement. 

But all mail-in voters will be sent a replacement ballot.

“Mail-in voting is an integral facet of the electoral process. With over 500,000 voters requesting mail-in ballots, we want to eliminate any doubt in its integrity or accuracy … that is why I have arranged the sending of replacement ballots,” Maryland State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said. 

The affected ballots were requested and mailed before May 14, more than a month before the state’s June 16 deadline for voters who wish to have their ballots mailed to them.

Voters who requested ballots that can be downloaded, printed and mailed were not affected by the error. They have until June 22 — the day before the state’s primary election — to request ballots by web delivery.

“Please be assured that we are actively answering phones and responding to emails and will remain transparent as we navigate through this situation,” DeMarinis said. “We will make every effort to ensure that everyone affected knows the situation and how to cast their ballot.”

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