Seventeen Maryland Sheriffs Sue State Over Community Trust Act

Maryland's Community Trust Act belongs to a category of state laws that restrict local agencies from coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - often called sanctuary jurisdiction statutes. Such laws have drawn legal challenges in multiple states, with plaintiffs typically arguing they conflict with federal immigration authority or improperly constrain elected sheriffs who hold independent constitutional responsibilities. The Act took effect in 2026 and drew immediate opposition from sheriffs in counties across the state who said it would prevent them from notifying ICE about individuals in local custody. The lawsuit places Maryland among a growing number of states where elected law enforcement officials have sought judicial relief against state-level immigration enforcement restrictions.