Maryland
A high-level overview of immigration enforcement activity, school protection policies, and resources for families and educators in Maryland.
Overview
State context
Maryland has strong state-level protections. The Maryland Trust Act (2021) significantly limits state and local cooperation with civil immigration detainers. Montgomery County Public Schools — one of the largest districts in the country — has had a formal policy limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement for years. Prince George's County and other suburban Washington districts have also adopted policies. ICE is active in the DC suburbs.
ICE activity
ICE has been very active in the DC-Maryland-Virginia suburbs, particularly in Prince George's County and Montgomery County, which have large Central American immigrant communities. Operations have targeted individuals, but school policies have created some buffer for families.
School policies
Montgomery County Public Schools' policy prohibits staff from asking about immigration status, requires a judicial warrant before access to students or records, and establishes clear escalation procedures to district legal counsel. Prince George's County schools have adopted similar protections. The Maryland Trust Act provides a legal framework supporting these policies.
Notes for advocates
Maryland's suburban Washington districts serve among the largest populations of Central American immigrant students in the country. Prince George's County and Montgomery County have large Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Honduran communities. The MS-13 enforcement operations in the DC suburbs have swept up some students and created significant fear in schools. Maryland is an important model for protective school policies in high-enforcement areas.
Is your district protected?
Find out whether your school district has a warrant-based policy in place, and what you can do if it doesn't.