Sheriff Jeff Gahler thanks Maryland Sheriffs and the residents of Maryland who made their voices heard loud and clear to save the 287(g) public safety partnership programs in Maryland.

The 2025 Maryland General Assembly session came to a close Monday evening at 11:59 p.m. While HB 1222 did pass about 15 minutes before midnight, the Senate amended out the language that would have forced the termination of all 287(g) Programs in Maryland. This means local authorities who support public safety are free to protect law abiding residents by continuing their federal public safety partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I am thankful to all Harford County residents and everyone across Maryland who got involved and contacted members of the General Assembly in an effort to save our partnership program with the Federal Government to remove criminal illegal immigrants from our community. Working with all of our local, state and federal partners is public safety 101 and it is a shame that some in Annapolis still refuse to acknowledge this fact and sought to end these existing programs,” said Sheriff Gahler.

The 287(g) Program has been in existence for nearly 30 years and in Harford County, we have partnered with ICE for the past eight years. This Program allows local jurisdictions to partner with ICE to screen all individuals who are processed into the Detention Center on local charges to determine their immigration status. If found to be in the Country illegally and, based on ICE’s priorities of Public Safety and/or National Security, ICE can initiate deportation proceedings.