Maryland Lawmakers Advance Bill Affecting Local Cooperation with ICE Deportations

Here's what to know about the former MPD sergeant involved in deportations

Charles Cross Jr. worked for MPD from 1993 to 2012.

Montgomery County Police, Maryland, is not involved in immigration law enforcement, and Third District Commander Jason Cokinos told the press this week that this will not change. The county police department’s third district includes Silver Spring, White Oak, and Burtonsville. “Montgomery County police don’t go to the scene of events to demand immigration status documentation or ask people what their status is,” Cokinos said.

CT lawmakers consider changes to state’s Trust Act

FILE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore Field Officer director Matt Elliston listens during a briefing, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. (Alex Brandon/AP / AP)Connecticut lawmakers are considering changes to the state’s Trust Act, which, in most cases, prevents local police from sharing information with immigration officials.The Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to send the third iteration of the law to th…

‘We’re not going to call ICE on somebody’: Montgomery Co. police emphasize public safety for all

Montgomery County police in Maryland do not take part in immigration enforcement, and Third District Cmdr. Jason Cokinos told reporters this week that will not change. The county police department’s third district includes Silver Spring, White Oak and Burtonsville. “Montgomery County police is not going to a scene demanding immigration status paperwork, or asking people what their status is,” Cokinos said. Cokinos told reporters he was recently …

Maryland Politicians Dump Plans to Block Police Cooperation with ICE

The Maryland legislature quietly dropped plans to prohibit state law enforcement agencies from working with ICE.

At the end of Maryland’s legislative session on Monday, legislators quickly passed a revised bill on immigration protections. The decision, which highlighted intense negotiations, reflected different views on immigration law enforcement strategies. House Bill 1222 aims to help “sensitive places” such as churches and schools before possible visits by immigration authorities and introduces specific privacy measures for immigration data. However, i…