Senate Republicans urge Gov. Moore to veto Community Trust Act

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Maryland Senate Republicans formally asked Gov. Wes Moore to veto a controversial immigration bill passed by the General Assembly on the final day of the 2026 session.

The Community Trust Act, or SB 791, re-emerged in the final week of session after sitting in committee for months. The legislation seeks to curb cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. The bill came after lawmakers already approved a bill to ban the formal 287(g) agreements in Maryland.

In a letter to Gov. Moore Wednesday, Senate Republicans urged the governor to veto the bill, arguing the legislation does not improve public safety in communities.

“Rather, it prioritizes politics over practical public safety solutions and undermines longstanding partnerships between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” the letter read.

Under the legislation, a felony conviction or a judicial warrant must be present before local law enforcement could communicate with ICE about someone’s immigration status. The legislation also outlines that law enforcement can notify ICE of someone who is detained in a correctional facility if that person would be on the sex offender registry, sentenced between 12 and 18 months in a state prison, or committed an offense in another state that resulted in at least five years served in prison.

Supporters of the bill, primarily Democratic lawmakers, argue that it ensures due process.

“When there is a felony or a serious charge, the detention center or local law enforcement should and can call ICE,” House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk said during a previous interview with FOX45 News.

Legislative analysts have warned that the bill could jeopardize federal funding for the state. This concern is underscored by a recent executive order signed by President Trump, directing the Department of Justice and Homeland Security to evaluate “sanctuary” states and potentially cut federal funding.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security argued the policies passed by lawmakers in Maryland impact public safety.

“When sanctuary politicians outlaw state and local law enforcement cooperation, they make their communities less safe. 7 of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE,” the spokesperson said via statement. “When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our law enforcement officers have to have a more visible presence so that we can find and apprehend the criminals let out of jails and back into communities.”

These politicians must stop releasing criminals into our communities and playing Russian roulette with American lives, a DHS spokesperson told FOX45 News.

FOX45 News also reached out to the Office of Attorney General, asking several questions about the language in the bill itself. However, the questions were not especially addressed in the statement sent to FOX45 News.

“All bills passed by the Maryland General Assembly are reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for constitutionality and legal sufficiency,” OAG Spokesperson Kelsey Hartman said. “That review is standard practice and applies to all passed legislation.”

Republicans also raised constitutional concerns with the bill, arguing it “invites conflict with the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and creates legal uncertainty for law enforcement officers who are placed in the untenable position of navigating conflicting state and federal obligations.”

“This bill creates real gaps in communication and coordination at a time when we should be strengthening both,” Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey said. “When law enforcement can’t share information or act in a timely way, the risk isn’t theoretical, it’s real.”

Marylanders deserve policies that put safety first, and this bill falls short, Hershey added.

FOX45 News reached out to Gov. Moore’s team for a response.

Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.