1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

The 287(g) program has perpetuated racial profiling and civil rights violations against minority communities, particularly Latino/a and African American populations. The program grants local law enforcement problematic authority to detain individuals accused of even minor offenses and transfer them to ICE custody without due process. Numerous incidents reveal officers have conducted discriminatory "sweeps" targeting neighborhoods with high concentrations of people of color. Furthermore, the lack of data collection on detainees' race exacerbates concerns about racial profiling going unaddressed. This pattern cannot continue. I urge you to support the Maryland Values Act (HB1222) to terminate the 287(g) agreements in our state. This legislation affirms our commitment to equal rights by ending a program that has enabled discrimination and constitutional abuses. It realigns Maryland's policies with our values of protecting vulnerable communities from overreach and upholding due process. Passing HB1222 is a crucial step towards achieving true justice and equal treatment under the law for all Marylanders, regardless of race or immigration status.