HoCo Exec Ball Vows To Veto Legislation That Ends ICE Contract

Ellicott City MD

06 October, 2020

5:32 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Howard County Council narrowly passed legislation 3-2 Monday night that eliminates the controversial contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that's been in place since 1995. Howard County's current arrangement with ICE allows immigration detainees, excluding women and children, to be held at the Howard County Detention Center in Jessup. However, shortly after the bill passed, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement that he planned to veto it. Ball noted that the passing of CB-51 would end a 25-year contract that has "helped make Howard County and the state of Maryland safer and make it tougher for ICE detainees to receive proper legal representation and access to their families." "I have listened to and share the same concerns of our Council members and immigration advocates about the Trump Administration's immigration policies and tactics. Howard County is not a 287-G jurisdiction and our public safety and law enforcement officers do not cooperate or work with ICE agents. We will always welcome dialogue with people who are working to uphold Howard County's shared values of diversity, inclusion, and civility for all," he said. "With the recent revisions and implementation to our detention center's policy to only hold ICE detainees at the Howard County Detention Center who been convicted of a crime of violence, we provided a practical long-term solution. The updated policy was supported and endorsed by CASA, CAIR, as well as other immigration advocates and attorneys who represent ICE detainees," Ball added. "I remain confident that our updated detention center policy strikes the right balance of ensuring safety for county residents and businesses while allowing for fair treatment for those who have been convicted by the criminal justice system and therefore will be vetoing CB-51."