DOJ Sues Maryland Over Community Trust Act, Citing 20 Prior Sanctuary Cases
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 10
DOJ Sues Maryland Over Community Trust Act, Citing 20 Prior Sanctuary Cases
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 10
Summary
The Justice Department filed suit in federal court Thursday, accusing Maryland’s Community Trust Act of illegally blocking immigration arrests, detainers and deportation transfers.
A May 29 incident at Worcester County Jail anchors the complaint: the facility told ICE it would no longer honor detainers, release people to ICE custody or give release notice under the new law.
DOJ argues the act violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause because Maryland requires a valid judicial warrant, while federal immigration law also permits arrests on administrative warrants.
The lawsuit adds Maryland to a broader DOJ crackdown launched after a February 2025 order to target sanctuary policies; the department says it has already brought 20 similar cases.
Seventeen of Maryland’s 24 sheriffs separately sued in late May, while Gov. Wes Moore has defended the law as crime-focused and said cooperation with federal agents can continue for serious offenders.