Earlier this year, the Maryland legislature overwhelmingly passed the Dignity Not Detention Act (HB16), the bill that would help protect immigrant families in the state of Maryland. Despite the bill receiving widespread support Governor Hogan still vetoed it.
The Dignity Not Detention Act will keep ICE and its contractors out of Maryland, protecting immigrant communities that have been, and can be, impacted by ICE’s inhumane detention center practices.
In the upcoming Maryland special legislative session, Maryland lawyers now have the chance to right the wrongs made by the Governor and override the veto. Maryland must promise to protect the people who call it home by keeping ICE outside of Maryland and preventing families from being separted and forced to live inhumane conditions.