The chilling effects of mass deportations and anti-immigrant policies have already taken hold in our communities. Children are missing school, older adults are forgoing critical medical care, workers are afraid to file taxes, survivors of domestic violence are too fearful to seek help. All due to fear of detention and deportation, and a perceived lack of data privacy.

The federal administration’s rhetoric on deportation is at odds with the reality: they are not prioritizing criminals—they are targeting hardworking taxpayers, families, and community members who contribute to our state. Maryland must act now to protect our vulnerable residents.

That’s why CASA Maryland — Economic Action Maryland Fund’s 2024 Consumer Advocate of the Year — has partnered with state legislators to push for critical protections:

• HB1431/SB977, the Maryland Data Privacy Act–sponsored by Delegate Charkoudian and Senator Lam, ensures that state and local agencies, as well as law enforcement entities, are prohibited from sharing personal information, facial recognition data, and access to public facilities with federal immigration authorities unless a valid judicial warrant is presented.
• HB1006/SB828, the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act– sponsored by Delegate Wilkens and Senator Smith, would require Maryland Attorney General Brown to develop guidelines for immigration enforcement at certain locations, limiting ICE’s ability to raid specific sensitive locations. Sensitive locations include schools and colleges, medical and mental health care facilities, places of worship, service centers and shelters, and childcare centers or other locations where children gather.

Contact your legislators today in support of Maryland’s immigrant population!

You can read more about our work on Digital Equity here.