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HB 653

Correctional Services - Transfers to Federal Authorities - Undocumented Immigrants (Protecting Marylanders From Violent Crime Act of 2025)

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Adams and 25 co-sponsors

HB 653 authorizes Maryland to transfer undocumented immigrant detainees to federal immigration authorities for deportation, framed as a public safety measure but raising federalism and due process concerns.

Hearing 3/05 at 3:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · HB 653

Legislative bill overview

HB 653 would authorize Maryland correctional facilities to transfer undocumented immigrants in their custody to federal immigration authorities (ICE) for deportation proceedings. The bill frames this as a public safety measure, though it modifies existing protocols around how state and federal agencies interact regarding immigrant detainees.

Why is this important

This bill directly affects how Maryland handles immigration enforcement within its criminal justice system, potentially impacting thousands of individuals and reshaping cooperation between state corrections and federal immigration authorities. It raises significant questions about state versus federal responsibility, due process protections, and the practical costs of immigration enforcement on state budgets.

Potential points of contention

  • Federalism and state resources: Whether states should bear responsibility for federal immigration enforcement, and whether transfers create unfunded federal mandates on state corrections systems
  • Due process and legal protections: Concerns that transfers could occur without adequate legal review, notification, or opportunity for immigrants to contest deportation
  • Public safety claims: Disagreement over whether the bill actually improves safety or conflates immigration status with criminality, and whether resources would be better spent on other crime prevention
  • Humanitarian considerations: Objections regarding family separation, impact on long-term residents, and potential violations of sanctuary principles some Maryland jurisdictions have adopted

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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