Trump clashes with Gov. Wes Moore as immigration crackdown divides Maryland
Maryland leaders have repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement, pushing back with legislation including a measure banning local cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
That headed to the governor's desk Thursday.
It comes as President Trump lashed out at Gov. Wes Moore on Truth Social and disinvited Moore and Colorado's Democratic Gov. Jared Polis to a bipartisan National Governors Association event next week in Washington, D.C.
"The invitations were sent to ALL Governors, other than two, who I feel are not worthy of being there," Trump wrote in his post.
Protests and pushback
Poly Students left class Thursday afternoon in North Baltimore to take a stand against the federal immigration crackdown.
Asked her message to President Trump on ICE, one student told WJZ, "I really hope that he stops this because this is really breaking our hearts because I have friends who've been taken away, and it's very sad."
Her classmate spoke about the reason for the protest, "Young people are the voice of the future. We are the next vote holders. We are the next ones holding power, so it's important for us to set the tone now."
The large gathering of students, many chanting and holding signs, walked out of the school and onto the football field.
The demonstration at Poly was one of several across the state this week as tensions over Trump administration policies boiled over.
Protesters gathered in Washington County Tuesday.
The federal government plans to convert a Williamsport warehouse into a new 1,500-bed ICE detention center.
Democrats have introduced federal legislation to stop it, and Gov. Moore promised to act, even looking at whether the property has the required permits.
"We can't allow it to happen, and we have to stand up for our neighbors," said protester Erica Carpenter. "We don't know what else to do because what can we do? We've tried. We show up. We speak up. We ask our questions. They shut us out."
Washington County leaders have pledged to work with the federal government and voted to express their "unwavering" support to DHS, ICE and local law enforcement.
Legislative roadblock?
Maryland Democrats are making that harder to do with a bill before the governor that bars local 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE.
"If ICE can't work through your local law-enforcement effectively in a documented process, they're going to be sending more people to find the people who really are the dangerous criminal illegal immigrants," said Republican State Senator Justin Ready.
He called the legislation "short-sighted."
Monday, Patty Morin, whose daughter was killed by a man who illegally entered the U.S., pleaded with the governor not to sign it.
"I'm really so very angry that Gov. Moore would do something like this instead of thinking about the families who have paid the ultimate price in losing their children," Morin said at a news conference with the Harford County Sheriff.
Harford County is one of eight Maryland jurisdictions with 287(g) agreements in place.
Another bill, the "No Kings Act" would allow people to bring civil lawsuits against federal law enforcement for violating their constitutional rights.
Moore, Trump clash
Gov. Moore condemned Trump's immigration policies at his State of the State address Wednesday.
"I want to thank you all for introducing legislation to protect Marylanders from the unconstitutional actions of some federal agents this session," the governor said in his address. "Working together, I'm confident we can take meaningful steps to hold federal agents accountable for violating the Constitution and help those who have been harmed to make sure they also get their justice."
Hours later, Trump lashed out on Truth Social, calling Moore "foul mouthed" and Baltimore a "crime disaster."
Read the post here.
