Maryland

Maryland sheriffs vow to fight bill banning 287G agreements with ICE

Published

1 month ago

February 16, 2026

Maryland sheriffs vow to fight bill banning 287G agreements with ICE

(WBFF) — Maryland sheriffs who participate in a federal immigration enforcement partnership said they are prepared to fight a bill awaiting the governor’s signature that would ban the agreements statewide.

Senate Bill 245 would prohibit so-called 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill is described as an emergency measure and would take effect immediately if the governor signs it.

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“This is an emergency bill – third reader for passage,” according to remarks during the legislative process.

Nine jurisdictions in Maryland currently have 287(g) agreements, which allow detention centers to screen inmates to determine who may be in the country illegally. Frederick County is among the participating jurisdictions.

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins said Senate Bill 245 would be challenged in court if it becomes law.

“What I think our challenge is a sheriff, as sheriffs, I think the challenge here is for us to find legal representation to get this into the courts,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins also called the bill a violation of law enforcement rights.

“We all have certain constitutional authorities that I don’t believe the legislator can just upend like this,” he said.

Harford County, another jurisdiction using the program, also criticized the proposal.

“This is good public safety,” Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said.

Asked about his stance if the program is eliminated, Gahler said “We are going to continue to look at and review all options.”

Gahler said ending the detention center-based program would not remove ICE from Maryland communities and could increase ICE activity in neighborhoods.

“Doing away with 287(g) has been sold by some legislators as the solution to getting ICE out of Maryland. The opposite will happen. You will still see ICE, probably in greater numbers, doing the mission that they are lawfully required and charged to do,” he said.

Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees said he would continue working with ICE regardless of whether the bill becomes law.

“Absolutely I will continue to work with ICE,” DeWees said.

He criticized lawmakers backing the ban, saying “The bill bans the agreements, and in typical Annapolis fashion, they supply no alternative.”

DeWees said his office would maintain communication with ICE even if the agreements are prohibited.

“ICE is not going away. And there has to be a process of communication with them. So I will create a policy within my office to continue working with ICE. I won’t look much different than I’m doing right now,” he said.

Sheriffs also argued the bill would put Maryland at risk and said they believe there is public support for keeping the agreements.

“52 percent of Marylanders want to see these agreements stay in place,” one sheriff said.

“Annapolis is trying to pull a quick one on people,” a sheriff said.

“The governor makes the argument that he’s trying to make the streets of Maryland safer, he is doing just the opposite when he signs this bill,” a sheriff said.

As of now, there has been no word from the governor on whether he intends to sign the ban into law.

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Maryland

Vote: Who is the Maryland Softball Player of the Week – March 30, 2026

Published

7 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

It’s officially spring, and high school softball season has already begun in Maryland. Once again, it’s time to answer the question: Who was the Maryland Softball Player of the Week?

We looked at multiple counties and nominated athletes for games played from March 23-29.

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Congratulations to last week’s winner: Macie Anderson of Kent Island.

We ask you to check out this week’s nominees and cast your vote below.

Voting ends Sunday, April 5, at 11:59 p.m. PT. The winner will be announced next week. Here are the nominees.

Abigail Clemens, Bethesda-Chevy Chase

Clemens, a sophomore, went 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and a double in Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s 19-4 blowout victory over Rockville.

Allie Hage, Bethesda-Chevy Chase

Hage went a perfect 4-for-4 with four RBIs, two doubles, and two runs in the Barons’ 15-1 win over Watkins Mill.

Addie Harling, Quince Orchard

Harling, a freshman, was dominant in the circle with 14 strikeouts through five scoreless innings in Quince Orchard’s 15-0 victory over Watkins Mill.

Paulina Mann, Einstein

Mann went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs, two doubles, a triple, and a run in Einstein’s 19-0 shutout win over Whitman. She also tossed eight strikeouts in the circle.

Ava Libercci, Mount Carmel

Libercci finished with a whopping nine RBIs, three home runs, and three runs on 3-for-3 batting in Mount Carmel’s 22-14 slugfest victory over Chapelgate Christian Academy.

Erin Martin, Mount Carmel

In the same game, Martin put up seven RBIs, a double, a triple, and three runs for the Cougars.

Nala Johnson, Northwest

Johnson was impressive in the circle with 13 strikeouts in five innings to lead Northwest’s 17-1 victory over Wootton. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a double.

Ali Porter, Northwest

Porter, another previous nominee, went 4-for-6 with four RBIs, a double, and three runs in the Jaguars’ 25-0 shutout win over Churchill.

Imani Lewis, City College

Lewis, a junior, went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with six RBIs, two home runs, a triple, and four runs in City College’s 22-10 win over Forest Park.

Abby Marmen, Fallston

Marmen, a senior and Drexel commit, finished with six RBIs, a double, a triple, and a home run on 4-for-4 batting in Fallston’s dominant 27-0 shutout victory over Joppatowne.

Sara Frist, Fallston

In the same game, the senior Frist also registered six RBIs, along with two doubles and four runs scored on 3-for-5 batting for the Cougars.

Annie Baker, Mountain Ridge

Baker went 3-for-4 with six RBIs, two doubles, and three runs in Mountain Ridge’s 19-1 blowout victory over Berkeley Springs (WV).

Emerson Koenig, Richard Montgomery

Koenig finished with five RBIs, a double, and a run on 3-for-4 batting in Richard Montgomery’s 20-1 blowout win over Blake.

Rebekah Caballero, McDonough

Caballero had a dominant two-way performance in McDonough’s 17-6 victory over Great Mills. In the circle, she tossed 10 strikeouts through six innings, while at the plate, she went 3-for-5 with seven RBIs, a double, and three runs.

Rylan Crisafulli, Broadneck

Crisafulli, a junior, tossed 12 strikeouts in four innings with no hits allowed in Broadneck’s 8-0 win over Annapolis.

Kimani Dennis, Dulaney

Dennis finished with four RBIs, a home run, a triple, and three RBIs in Dulaney’s 16-0 shutout victory over Lansdowne.

About Our Athlete of the Week Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals.Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports.Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

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Maryland

USC baseball takes two of three from Maryland to win another series

Published

20 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

USC baseball takes two of three from Maryland to win another series

After suffering just their second loss of the season against Oregon State on Tuesday, the USC baseball team looked to get back on track over the weekend when they traveled across the country for a three-game series at Maryland. It was not the prettiest, but the Trojans were able to take the series, winning two of their three games against the Terrapins.

On Friday, USC jumped out to an early lead and survived late. After leading 10-2 through three innings, the Trojans survived a late Maryland rally and emerged with an 11-10 victory.

On Saturday, the team suffered just its third loss of the season, falling 6-4. On Sunday, however, the Trojans came out hungry for payback and delivered just that, winning 14-4 in an eight-inning mercy rule affair.

USC has now won all seven of its series to open the season, including all four in Big Ten play. The Trojans now sit at 26-3 on the year and 10-2 in conference.

USC will now return to the West Coast for a matchup with UC Santa Barbara at Dedeaux Field on Tuesday night. They will then head to Westwood next weekend for a three-game series against rival UCLA. With both teams currently ranked in the top ten, it sets up to be the biggest baseball Crosstown Showdown in many years.

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Maryland

New charge filed in case of accidental Anne Arundel Co. school shooting – WTOP News

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

New charge filed in case of accidental Anne Arundel Co. school shooting – WTOP News

A reckless endangerment charged has been added in the case of a man charged after a 7-year-old boy fired a gun inside a Maryland elementary school in early February.

A new charge was added to the accidental gun discharge case from February that’s tied to an Anne Arundel County school.

Court records show that one count of reckless endangerment was filed against Eashan John Stefanski, a 34-year-old Pasadena man, Thursday.

He was initially charged with leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a minor in February, when a 7-year-old boy accidentally discharged a gun at Freetown Elementary School in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

The new charge was added more than a month after the incident, which saw the child suffer an injury to his hand.

Detectives found the gun was obtained from the boy’s home.

Stefanski is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, The Baltimore Banner reported.

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