Posted on 01/22/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - Jan. 22, 2025 - Questions surrounding immigration enforcement dominated the Mayor’s weekly press conference Wednesday.
When asked, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said he has not received any communications from the White House regarding immigration enforcement and has not issued any directives to the Baltimore Police Department or any other city agency.
“Our approach will not change and I’ll reiterate what I said from the beginning. We are watching what the Administration actually does, not just what they say. I think that’s a critical thing. And we know the most predictable thing about the President is he can be unpredictable. It's also important to note that we work with our federal partners every single day. But BPD and my officers are focused on preventing crime and violent offenders in Baltimore and they will continue to do that and they will not be focused on enforcing a federal immigration law. The City won’t be asking residents about their immigration status. We will not be doing that in a law enforcement capacity or any connection with our city services. Not only is that consistent with our values as a City but it's the best way to stick to our obligations with public safety in Baltimore because that’s what is important to the folks of Baltimore that we continue to have those numbers go down. The federal government handles immigration policy and enforcement of the nation's immigration laws. We have not and we won’t interfere with them doing their work. Our focus will remain on reducing violence in Baltimore. If you’re going to break the law I don’t care where you’re from. We have and will continue to work with ICE and federal agencies on folks who are breaking the law and helping remove them from the streets of Baltimore,” Mayor Brandon Scott said.
Scott added he has no knowledge of any upcoming raids in the city.
“We’re not aware,” responded Scott. “We’ve heard the same things you all have heard but again I am not the President of the US. He controls ICE. The President can send forth his agents to do as he pleases as the commander of them. My hope is that the focus remains on violent folks. Folks who are disrupting communities. Folks who are leading gangs and bringing gangs and drugs and causing harm in our communities.”
President Trump also rescinded Biden’s policy that protected certain areas such as churches, schools and hospitals from immigration enforcement.
The Mayor was asked if he was considering any countermeasures.
“We’ll look at every legal option that we have to protect our residents, period,” said Scott. “But we will not be doing anything illegal. Every legal option to protect our residents the City of Baltimore will be under the guise of our fabulous city solicitor we’ll be looking at. But we will not do anything illegal.”
State and local officials have been warned of potential prosecution for obstructing immigration enforcement.
When asked, the Mayor said he was aware, but that it “wasn’t something that scared him,’ and should for whatever reason he ever be detained the City Administrator would run the City.