ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s majority Democratic legislature braced for the federal ramp up of immigration enforcement this session, introducing a flurry of immigration and citizenship-related bills.
Legislators introduced more bills on the topics in the 2026 session than in any of the past 15 years, according to an analysis by the Capital News Service.
“I think immigration has definitely been at the forefront, along with affordability, of what we’ve done this legislative session because we have a federal government that is actively attacking our immigrant community,” said Del. Tiffany Alston, D-Prince George’s.
Under the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been sent to several cities nationwide to carry out federal operations. Public backlash has increased over what activists call aggressive tactics by ICE agents, including killing two people in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Legislatures across the country, including Maryland, have introduced hundreds of immigration bills this year in the wake of the federal crackdown.
Nearly half of the 43 bills introduced in Maryland addressed public safety by among other things limiting cooperation between federal ICE and local public safety officials, including police and sheriffs and security personnel at schools and hospitals.
Only 15 bills moved forward in the legislative process increasing their chance of possibly becoming law this session.
One bill would make it easier for undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition at public higher education institutions by reducing from three to two the years their parents or guardians would have to file income taxes.
Immigration advocates said movement on some of the measures is a step forward.
“Even just one bill passing is a victory,” said Tamara Zuniga, a general body member for Progressive Maryland. “It’s disappointing that not all of it has gone forward, but I think that right now any sort of law, bill or act that’s been passed is deeply integral to telling Marylanders that this is their home.”
The high number of bills addressing concerns for immigrant communities shows how important it is for Marylanders to hold ICE accountable, Zuniga said.
“A lot of our community members … they are almost afraid to interact with law enforcement because law enforcement has been cooperating formally or informally with ICE,” said Zuniga. Many “immigration bills are focused on how do we stop the funneling of community members into the carceral and deportation machine.”
Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, has repeatedly challenged the federal government’s approach to immigration enforcement. He signed identical bills introduced in both chambers banning local law enforcement from entering into cooperation agreements with ICE, known as 287(g) agreements, in February.
“We are seeing a Trump-Vance ICE operation that is moving in a way that is unlawful,” Moore said at the bill signing. “There needs to be accountability for this organization.”
The number of immigration bills enacted in legislatures across the country nearly doubled from 2024 to 2025, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Immigration Legislation Database.
The spike in immigration related bills in Maryland is not surprising, particularly with upcoming elections, said Del. Lauren Arikan, R-Harford.
“It’s definitely an election year political theater for sure,’’ Arikan said. “Many of the bills are not going to pass. Many of the bills are unconstitutional. Many of the bills won’t be enforceable because ICE doesn’t have to listen to anything Maryland tells ICE to do because it’s a federal agency.”
Arikan said most of the bills that challenge the Trump administration’s immigration agenda could spur retaliation from the federal government.
“I would absolutely encourage President Trump to defund any jurisdictions or even a whole state, if necessary, who attempts to obfuscate the important role that ICE is playing keeping our country safe from folks that are coming here by and large to commit crimes,” said Arikan.
Other delegates said Maryland has been a federal target even before this legislative session.
“I think we are going to see an uptick of more immigration enforcement going on here and not because of a response to all the legislation that we’re putting up,” said Teresa Woorman, D-Montgomery. “The bullseye was there from before we started doing all of this. It was there when Congress funded (ICE), and that was before we had legislation ready to go.”
Here are some bills CNS has tracked as of April 7, 2026:
Detention Facility
Correctional Services – Correctional Facilities and Immigration Detention Facilities – Minimum Mandatory Standards
Sponsors: Del. Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery), Charlotte Crutchfield (D-Montgomery), Kris Fair (D-Frederick), Mary A. Lehman (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel), Sheila Ruth (D-Baltimore County), Matthew J. Schindler (D-Washington), Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), Jen Terrasa (D-Howard), Chao Wu (D-Howard and Montgomery)
The bill aims to establish minimum standards of care for civil detainees in immigrants detention facilities.
Last action: 03/25/2026
Detention Facility
Correctional Services – Private Immigration Detention Facilities – Zoning Requirement
Sponsors: Del. Melissa Wells (D-Baltimore City), Charlotte Crutchfield (D-Montgomery), Kris Fair (D-Frederick), Ken Kerr, (D-Frederick), Mary A. Lehman (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel), Sheila Ruth (D-Baltimore County), Matthew J. Schindler (D-Washington), Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), Vaughn Stewart (D-Montgomery), Jen Terrasa: (D-Howard), Chao Wu: (D-Howard and Montgomery)
The bill would prohibit state and local governments from approving construction or operation of a immigration detention center by a private entity unless certain zoning requirements are met.
Last action: 02/27/2026
Data Privacy
Data Privacy – Consumer Data Public Records and Message Switching System (Data Privacy Act)
Sponsors: Del. Lorig Charkoudian (D-Montgomery), Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), Sarah Wolek (D-Montgomery)
The bill would prohibit the sale of personal data to agencies that support civil immigration enforcement and would require that the custodian of public records take steps to ensure it’s not used for immigration enforcement purposes.
Last action: 03/23/2026
Education
Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility
Sponsors: Del. Teresa Woorman (D-Montgomery), Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery), Aaron M. Kaufman (D-Montgomery), Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George’s), Ryan Spiegel (D-Montgomery)
The bill would change the Maryland Dream Act by decreasing the number of years a parent or guardian would have to file state income taxes to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges or universities.
Last action: 03/20/2026
Public Safety
Immigration Enforcement – Expanding Sensitive Locations Notification and Guidance (Maryland Values Act of 2026)
Sponsors: Del. Eric Ebersole (D-Baltimore County), Nick Allen (D-Baltimore County), Jessica Feldmark (D-Howard), Catherine Forbes (D-Baltimore County), Terri L. Hill (D-Howard), Dana Jones (D-Anne Arundel), Gabriel Moreno (D-Howard), Cheryl E. Pasteur (D-Baltimore), Edith J. Patterson (D-Charles), Jared Solomon (D-Montgomery), Dana Stein (D-Baltimore County), Jen Terrasa (D-Howard), Jennifer White Holland (D-Baltimore County)
The bill would among other things ban public school officials from engaging in certain immigration enforcement and include public schools in the definition of sensitive locations.
Last action: 03/20/2026
Data Privacy
Maryland Data Privacy and Protection Act of 2026
Sponsor: Chair, Government, Labor, and Elections Committee
This bill would limit personal information that can be collected and retained, including sensitive data such as citizenship, immigration status and racial or ethnic origin.
Last action: 03/25/2026
Alcoholic Beverages
Garrett County – Alcoholic Beverages Act of 2026
Sponsor: Del. Jim Hinebaugh (R-Garrett and Allegany)
The bill would among other things require applicants for a liquor license in Garrett County to provide evidence of their citizenship status.
Last action: 04/07/2026
Judiciary
Registers of Wills – Appointment of Personal Representatives
Sponsors: Del. Teresa Woorman (D-Montgomery), Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery), Regina Boyce (D-Baltimore City), Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery), Aaron Kaufman (D-Montgomery), Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George’s), Julie Palakovich Carr (D-Montgomery), Sheila Ruth (D-Baltimore County), Gary Simmons (D-Anne Arundel), Jen Terrasa (D-Howard), Greg Wims (D-Montgomery), Sarah Wolek (D-Montgomery)
The bill would repeal a ban on letters of administration being granted to a person who is not a citizen of the U.S.
Last action: 03/20/2026
Health Care
Hospitals – Immigration Enforcement Action – Policy Requirement
Sponsor: Sen. Clarence Lam (D-Howard and Anne Arundel)
The bill would require hospitals in Maryland to adopt policies for when there is immigration enforcement actions on the grounds.
Last action: 03/20/2026
Public Health
Public Health – Health Innovation Zones – Establishment
Sponsors: Del. Tiffany Alston (D-Prince George’s), Derrick Coley (D-Prince George’s), Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-Prince George’s), Julian Ivey (D-Prince George’s), Kent Roberson (D-Prince George’s), Denise Roberts (D-Prince George’s), Kym Taylor (D-Prince George’s), Karen Toles (D-Prince George’s), Heather Bagnall (D-Anne Arundel), Bonnie Cullison (D-Montgomery), Pamela Guzzone (D-Howard), Terri Hill (D-Howard), Steve Johnson (D-Harford), Aaron M. Kaufman (D-Montgomery), Lesley J. Lopez (D-Montgomery), Ashanti Martinez (D-Prince George’s), Samuel I. Rosenberg (D-Baltimore City), Kim Ross (D-Baltimore County), Deni Taveras (D-Prince George’s), Jennifer White Holland (D-Baltimore County), Teresa Woorman (D-Montgomery)
The bill would designate specialized zones to address health disparities in underserved communities, which often include high concentrations of immigrant residents.
Last action: 03/25/2026
Methodology: The Capital News Service analysis is based on a search of “immigrants and citizenship” related bills introduced in the Maryland General Assembly dating back to 2011.
