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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland requires law enforcement agencies to respond to, record, and report on immigration enforcement actions
Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Sara Love
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What This Bill Would Do
Maryland law enforcement agencies must dispatch an officer to observe, record with a body-worn camera, and report on immigration enforcement activities occurring within their jurisdiction, effective October 1, 2026. The responding officer must document details such as warrants, federal agencies involved, force used, medical attention needed, and any observed violations of law. Resulting reports and video footage are subject to public information laws and must be stored for at least 4 years and 4 months, respectively.
Local police departments and sheriff's offices face mandatory deployment and documentation duties whenever federal immigration actions take place locally, creating new public records and mandated storage periods.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agencies are required to dispatch officers to immigration enforcement actions, file detailed reports, preserve evidence, and store records for mandated retention periods.
Law enforcement officers
Officers must respond to notices of immigration enforcement, record actions using body-worn cameras, document specific details in reports, and preserve evidence while maintaining constitutional duties.
Key Facts
- Law enforcement agencies must dispatch at least one officer upon receiving notice of an immigration enforcement action within their jurisdiction.
- Responding officers must observe the action, ensure the safe transfer of individuals in custody, record the action with body-worn cameras, file a comprehensive report, and preserve related evidence.
- Required report details include date, time, location, warrant type, federal agencies involved, force used, medical attention required, observation restrictions, and observed violations of law.
- Body-worn camera footage of immigration enforcement actions must be stored for at least 4 months.
Show all 8 facts
- Reports filed regarding immigration enforcement actions must be stored for at least 4 years.
- Recorded footage and documentation are subject to the provisions of the Public Information Act.
- Officers responding to immigration enforcement actions must continue to perform the constitutional obligations of their position.
- The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a law enforcement officer do when responding to an immigration enforcement action?
How long must the reports and camera footage be stored?
Are these reports and recordings available to the public?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Judicial Proceedings
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy75Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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