Maryland and New Mexico have enacted measures to discontinue or restrict local government contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The move reflects ongoing concerns about collaboration with federal immigration enforcement and its impact on immigrant communities, as well as broader debates over local governments’ roles in immigration enforcement. The bans or limitations aim to reduce ICE access to public-works contracts and city or county procurement processes, signaling partisan divides over how to handle immigration policy at the local level.
Supporters argue that limiting local contracts with ICE protects immigrant residents and aligns state policy with values of inclusion and public safety without fear of deportation pressures. Opponents contend that such restrictions could hinder law enforcement coordination and create friction between state and federal authorities. The actions by Maryland and New Mexico add to a broader national trend of blue states pursuing municipal contract bans or restrictions on ICE cooperation.
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