A group of protesters gathered in Towson Wednesday to protest an agreement between local and federal authorities about immigration enforcement.
Some 100 people rallied in front of the Baltimore County Historic Courthouse starting at 4 p.m., many carrying signs. The emergency rally lasted for an hour.
The county’s Department of Corrections now must inform the Baltimore field office of Enforcement and Removal Operations, which operates under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, before releasing incarcerated individuals who are subject to a federal immigration detainer. The memorandum of understanding was announced Friday.
This allows ICE to take inmates that are removable under federal immigration law into custody.
The protesters and eight speakers denounced the MOU. County Councilman Izzy Patoka, who is running for Baltimore County Executive in 2026, spoke at the rally.
“It was really troubling, disturbing and disappointing to see an e-mail come out from the county executive’s office,” Patoka said during his speech. “It was attached with a memorandum of understanding to comply with ICE.”
Patoka explained his plan of action in response to the abrupt MOU. He said he’d introduce legislation on Nov. 17 to “put guardrails” up in Baltimore County against ICE.
“So that ICE cannot operate as it does in other places in the country,” Patoka said. “We are going to work together to make Baltimore County safe for all families.”
Read full article: Protesters denounce Baltimore County, federal immigration authority agreement
