President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown — a sometimes violent ramp-up of federal enforcement operations in Chicago, Los Angeles and, most recently, in Minneapolis — has left fear, chaos and death in its wake.
Lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly have responded with a series of bills that would set a number of restrictions on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, operations in the state.
But what can states legally do when it comes to federal immigration enforcement?
For more on that, WYPR's weekend news anchor and today's Midday guest host Erica Kane turns to Sarah Petrowich, WYPR's Maryland State House reporter.
Sarah joins Erica in Studio A.
Then, Erica speaks with Lillian Reed, a reporter with WYPR's news partner, The Baltimore Banner. Lillian has been reporting on the US Department of Homeland Security's plans for a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Elkridge, in Howard County, Maryland.
According to Lillian's reporting, construction on the facility is 90% complete. But the site is also the subject of a lawsuit by the building's commercial owner against the Howard County government, which recently passed a law banning immigrant detention facilities in the county.
Lillian Reed joins host Erica Kane on Zoom with more details.
