Thread: Baltimore County hearing on bill to join immigration effort draws strong debate

May 30, 2017
Pamela Wood

A bill to enlist the Baltimore County jail into a federal immigration screening program drew divided views from residents Tuesday — the latest local take on an issue that has sparked debate in communities across the nation.

At a hearing that lasted nearly two hours — and was preceded by an opposition rally attended by County Executive Kevin Kamenetz — residents lined up to either support the bill as a way to help root out illegal immigrants who are committing crimes, or reject it as a program that sows fear among otherwise law-abiding people.

The County Council will vote next week on the measure, which would require the county jail to join a federal program known as 287(g) that trains correctional officers to carry out immigration investigations on jail detainees.

Its success is unlikely. All four Democrats on the council spoke against it, while the three Republicans have voiced support. Even it passes the council, Kamenetz has pledged to veto it.

Regardless of its fate, the bill has drawn passionate response. In Baltimore County, council meetings are often lightly attended, but Tuesday's hearing drew a crowd that packed the council chambers. Nearly 50 people testified, split between supporters and opponents.

Kathryn Jerraro of Cockeysville said the jail screening program will help make the county safer by identifying people who shouldn't be in the country. She said she's concerned about Latino gangs, and said the jail program is one way to address them.

"We want to get people who can do us harm off the streets," she said.

The libertarian group Baltimore County Campaign for Liberty organized people to attend the meeting, and volunteer Mark Baskervill delivered a box of petitions in support of the bill.

"Do you want to attract illegal immigrant criminals or not to Baltimore County?" asked Baskervill, a resident of Monkton in Harford County. "The 287(g) is clearly targeting only criminals who commit further crimes beyond just illegally immigrating here."

Several people who identified themselves as Asian-American immigrants said the bill won't affect legal, law-abiding immigrants. Peina Shr said she's easily identified as an immigrant, but she's never had any trouble with police.

"We are against illegal immigrants," she said. "I don't appreciate people who come here illegally."

Others argued 287(g) is most likely to flag people who have committed only minor offenses for possible deportation. And they said having county officials enforcing immigration law could create a chilling effect on immigrants who may fear calling police to report crimes.

"This will not create a safer community. This will create more fear," said Aixa Nunez, a 17-year-old senior at Owings Mills High School who said she is an immigrant from Honduras.

Nick Steiner, an ACLU attorney from Catonsville, suggested programs such as 287(g) are less about public safety and more about discrimination against immigrants. He said in Frederick County — one of two counties in Maryland with the program — 80 percent of jail detainees flagged for immigration violations had committed minor offenses, including traffic offenses.

"They're targeting communities of color and sending them out of the country, for what? Traffic tickets?" he said. "Let's be clear on what this bill is: It is a part of a broader political climate to target immigrants."

Opponents also questioned the cost of the program. While the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement trains correctional officers, there could be costs for filling those positions while they're away, transportation costs and increased staffing needed in the jail due to officers' additional responsibilities, they suggested.

Opponents testifying Tuesday included representatives from immigrant-rights group CASA, religious groups, the Green Party and progressive groups such as Indivisible, Together We Will and Our Revolution.

Kamenetz, a Democrat considering a run for governor, reiterated his opposition to the bill at the rally before the hearing.

"Not only is this bill unconstitutional, it is un-American," he said. "Be assured, as a real leader, I will veto it."

The bill has drawn an unusually high level of public interest. Council members, who rarely debate issues in public, spent about 45 minutes at the hearing publicly discussing their positions.

The bill is scheduled for vote at the council session at 6 p.m. Monday in Towson.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...530-story.html

Debate over immigration reform in Baltimore County
ABC 2 News

Baltimore County Council effectively kills bill to require immigration screening in jail

June 5, 2017
Pamela Wood

The Baltimore County Council has effectively killed a bill that would have required the county jail to screen inmates for immigration violations, but the measure's chief sponsor vowed to try again.

The council voted 5-2 on Monday to table the measure, which would have required the county jail in Towson to join a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement program known as 287(g) that trains and deputizes county correctional officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement. The bill would have placed the program among official duties of the county's Department of Corrections.

The council action kills the bill, because county bills expire after 45 days, and the council will not meet again before this bill expires.

Republican Councilman David Marks — who had been a co-sponsor of the measure — joined the council's four Democrats in voting to table the bill.

Marks said he grew to have some reservations about the bill. He drafted amendments that would have made participation in the program a pilot for a limited amount of time, limited it to only screening convicted felons and required an audit.

"I think the bill could be improved," said Marks, a Perry Hall Republican.

Councilman Todd Crandell, the bill's chief sponsor, said he plans to reintroduce a version of the bill after spending the summer further educating council members about it.

"Absolutely, we're going to bring it back," the Dundalk Republican said. "It's just in what form."

Crandell and Councilman Wade Kach, a Cockeysville Republican, voted against the motion to table the bill.

County Executive Kevin Kamenetz, who had promised to veto the bill if it had passed, issued a statement welcoming the move to table it.

"The Republican council bill was more about bringing [President] Donald Trump's divisive politics to our county than doing what is best for our residents. I'm glad the council didn't move forward with this legislation," said Kamenetz, a Democrat who is considering running for governor next year.

The bill drew an unusually intense amount of interest to the Baltimore County Council, with dozens of people on both sides testifying during a public hearing last week. Groups both opposed and supportive of the bill launched petition drives.

Towson resident Tony Ristaino, who supported the bill, told council members during the meeting he was disappointed they didn't vote on the bill.

"I would have liked to have seen a vote on the bill so your constituents could make a decision as to whether you made the right vote or not," he said.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/mar...605-story.html