Posted on 03/05/26
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - Mar. 5, 2026 - Amid a battle over federal immigration policy and implementation, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed an executive order aimed at "Protecting the Rights and Well-Being of Baltimore City Residents."
The move comes after reports that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is transferring supplies to a warehouse near Hagerstown, MD, just over an hour west of Baltimore.
“For months, our team has been closely monitoring aggressive, reckless, and violent federal immigration enforcement in cities and communities around the country,” Mayor Scott said. “This executive order is one of many actions we’re taking to protect public safety and our residents in Baltimore. Our immigrant neighbors are an integral part of Baltimore's social and economic fabric. They are our business owners, essential workers, homeowners, neighbors, and friends. We are committed to the inclusion, access, safety, and rights of all people who call our city home — and we will never apologize for that.”
According to the announcement of the executive order, the primary purposes of the action include:
More specifically, the executive order identifies expanded "Know Your Rights" outreach efforts and "reiterates [Baltimore's] existing internal policy... which prohibits ICE agents from entering City facilities without a judicial warrant," as well as announcing that Baltimore will "pursue all legal avenues to challenge unconstitutional federal actions if necessary." It also clarifies the management and policies of BPD related to immigration enforcement, enhances restrictions on ICE's potential use of city property, and authorizes city attorneys to partake in pro bono work for immigration cases on a volunteer basis.The executive order also points to "chaos and fear" created in communities across the country due to federal enforcement agents as part of its introductory statements.