Baltimore County councilmembers voted down a bill proposed by Councilmember Izzy Patoka that would have banned immigration and other law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks while on duty. Patoka argued that masked ICE officers create fear in communities and that all law enforcement should show their faces while working. However, local police and some councilmembers opposed the measure, fearing association with ICE’s controversial reputation. Meanwhile, a similar bill banning masks for law enforcement statewide has passed the Maryland Senate but faces potential legal challenges.

In addition to the mask debate, Baltimore County has taken other steps to protect immigrant communities, including passing an emergency bill to prevent the Department of Homeland Security from leasing local facilities for detention centers and establishing an Office of Immigrant Affairs to improve immigrant resources. The county also passed legislation restricting local cooperation with ICE, prohibiting county employees from assisting ICE with immigration enforcement or inquiring about individuals’ immigration status except in limited circumstances. These measures reflect ongoing efforts to safeguard immigrant rights and community trust amid national immigration enforcement concerns.