On a party line vote, the Baltimore County Council Monday night approved two pieces of legislation designed to protect the county’s non-U.S. citizens.
Democrat Izzy Patoka, who sponsored the legislation and is also running for county executive, said immigrant communities are living in fear.
“We have to fight back at the local level,” Patoka said. “And that’s what we’re going to do here. So we’re going to put guardrails up against ICE activities in Baltimore County and also guardrails up in terms of how much our agencies can engage with ICE.”
During the council meeting, Marks did question the need for the second bill, which also passed 4-3, that codifies the county’s office of Immigrant Affairs.
Patoka said codifying it would keep a new county executive from coming in and deciding “that they did not want the office.”
Patoka promised to introduce legislation at a protest in November over the county’s decision to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Homeland Security.
“We should not encourage masked individuals with heavy weapons to enter our public buildings, our schools, our faith-based institutions, our places or worship,” Patoka said. “That is not what we ought to be agreeing to. But folks I think that’s what we agreed to.”
The MOU says the county must contact ICE before someone with a federal immigration detainer or a judicial warrant is released. Then ICE will decide whether it will take custody of the inmate.
Read full article and listen to audio: Split Baltimore County Council passes immigrant protection legislation | WYPR
