Maryland Pays High Costs for Federal Immigration Enforcement

Jailing suspected undocumented immigrants at the request of federal officials costs Maryland and its localities hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, using scarce state and local resources that could be better spent on more pressing law enforcement needs. The detentions, which are not required by federal law and overwhelmingly target non-violent offenders, also erode trust in local law enforcement among both documented and undocumented immigrants, which can hamper the prevention and investigation of more serious crimes.

To ensure that Maryland is not using its resources in counterproductive ways, state policymakers should follow the lead of other states and ensure that local police either do not intervene in these detention requests or enforce them more narrowly. Local law enforcement officials should also reevaluate their role in this federal policy, which they are not required to enforce. In particular, law enforcement should not hold individuals brought in on minor charges past the point when they are eligible for release on state or local grounds. Further, local law enforcement should collect and report data on their compliance with immigration detainers. 

Enforcing the detention requests cost Maryland at least $1 million between 2010 and 2013. There were broader social and economic costs as well. For instance, when local police appear to be an arm of federal immigration enforcement, community members fear that any contact with law enforcement, including coming forward as a witness to or victim of crime could lead to their confinement or deportation.