Baltimore Co. Council Approves Ban On ICE Detention Centers

TOWSON, MD — In a late Tuesday emergency session, the Baltimore County Council banned the establishment of any new immigration detention centers in the county.

The unanimous 6-0 vote on Bill 14-26 changes zoning regulations to prohibit the county from granting any permits for a detention center, jail, or any other structure that can be used for "involuntary confinement."

The legislation, which was introduced by Council member Julian Jones, allows the county to suspend or revoke any permit tied to a detention center that was either applied for or issued since Jan. 1.

However, exemptions are in play for any county- or state-owned facility that was already in operation.

Related:

• ICE Detention Centers Blocked By Howard County Council
• 2 ICE Detention Centers In MD Face Different Fates

The emergency session was held after the U.S. General Services Administration leased an office in Hunt Valley, prompting speculation that the grounds would be used as a potential site for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier told WBAL that if ICE were to "own the property, they can do whatever they want to do. But, if they have to lease the property or someone else is involved, those are the people we can control."

Although no official word has been issued on the usage of the Hunt Valley site, Council member David Marks told WMAR that a representative for the property informed him that the structure was meant for staffers who "are handling immigration, customs, and FOIA requests."

As for Jones, he told WMAR that he introduced the legislation because he did not "want to wait for them to string up barb wire for me to figure out what's going on."

The bill's passage comes after similar steps were taken by the Howard County Council, which passed two emergency bills to not only keep ICE detention centers out of the county but to limit their access to county facilities and properties.