ANNAPOLIS – Maryland lawmakers are rallying support behind a proposal that would deny bail to detainees until they can provide documentation of their legal status in the United States. “In Maryland, we identify criminals as illegal aliens, then we turn around and release them on bail and they kill our citizens,” Del. John W. E. Cluster Jr., R-Baltimore County, told the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday at a public hearing on the bill. Supporters say the law would crack down on the number of violent offenders in the state. “I’ve arrested terrorists, murderers and assorted criminals … and all have one thing in common,” said Michael Cutler, retired special agent of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service. “[They are] illegal immigrants.”
Opponents of the bill say it would cost too much to keep nonviolent detainees incarcerated, rather than release them on bail.
The legislation is cosponsored by 27 delegates, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Vallario Jr., D-Calvert and Prince George’s counties.
The Judiciary Committee is responsible for making a recommendation on the legislation to the General Assembly.
The committee debated two other bills that would align Maryland’s immigration laws with the federal 287(g) program used in Arizona as well as Prince William and Frederick counties. The legislation would enable state and local police officers to function as federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, by detaining people who cannot provide documentation of their legal status.
“This bill is not about our nannies and landscapers and worker bees who come to this country to have a job … it is about public safety,” said Del. Pat McDonough, R-Baltimore and Harford counties, who sponsored the bill.
Opponents of the measure say it encourages racial profiling and creates a chilling effect on potential police informants.
“Is [the bill’s intent] to go after immigrants, or is it to reduce crime?” asked Del. Keiffer Mitchell, D-Baltimore.
Others pointed to the bill’s cost, which estimates that training Maryland State Police officers to function as ICE agents would cost $842,050 in the first year.
“You, in your wisdom, dismissed the fiscal note,” Del. Luiz R. S. Simmons, D-Brookeville, told McDonough.
McDonough blasted Simmons’ county, Montgomery, as the “belly of the beast” when it comes to illegal immigrants.
Several Montgomery lawmakers chuckled at the criticism. McDonough shot back, “You guys can laugh all you want, but you live there and you know it.”
