Howard County councilwoman to introduce emergency bill limiting ICE interactions

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — Howard County Councilwoman Liz Walsh is set to introduce emergency legislation aimed at protecting the community from interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The legislation, to be introduced Monday evening, mandates that the County Executive publish guidance on ICE interactions and requires county departments to align their policies with this guidance.

Additionally, it seeks to render local contracts with ICE void and unenforceable as a matter of public policy. According to officials, this move builds on the county’s previous efforts to safeguard its residents, 22% of whom are foreign-born.

Councilwoman Walsh’s announcement comes amid controversy surrounding a recent social media post she made, which allegedly compromised a police operation.

Walsh had posted about ICE activity in Howard County, including at an elementary school. However, the Howard County Police Department clarified that the operation involved their officers targeting suspected child predators, not ICE. Officers were undercover but wore vests marked as Howard County Police.

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Jamie Flynn, president of the Howard County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 21, criticized Walsh’s post, stating it endangered the safety of officers, victims, suspects, and the community. Flynn has called for an apology from Walsh, emphasizing the importance of accountability. Despite the criticism, Walsh has denied any wrongdoing and has not issued an apology or removed the post from her Facebook page.

In 2020, Howard County passed the Liberty Act, which prohibits county employees from assisting in immigration enforcement activities, asking about immigration status, or discriminating based on immigration status. The act also mandates confidentiality for certain immigration information. The Liberty Act was approved by 64% of voters in a referendum.

For more information on the legislation, contact District 1 at 410-313-2001 or email CouncilDistrict1@HowardCountyMD.gov.

To express support, email CouncilMail@HowardCountyMD.gov.