Frederick County Council passes Values Act limiting cooperation with ICE
The 5-2 vote advances restrictions on access to county information and facilities, with an emergency exception and no employee penalties.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
The council passed the Values Act 5-2, with five Democrats supporting it and two Republicans opposing it. The measure generally restricts ICE access to county information or facilities without a federal warrant, while including emergency and information-sharing exceptions. It contains no employee penalties. The supplied report does not provide an effective date or confirm a loss of federal funding.
Frederick County Council voted 5-2 Tuesday to limit county government cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, approving a measure supporters describe as both guidance for employees and a statement of local values.
The Immigration Enforcement Guidance bill, also called the Values Act, generally bars county employees from giving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers access to county information or facilities without a federal warrant, according to The Frederick News-Post.
The report describes the measure as codifying practices already used by County Executive Jessica Fitzwater’s administration. It does not provide an effective date.
All five Democrats supported it: Brad Young, Kavonté Duckett, Renee Knapp, M.C. Keegan-Ayer and Jerry Donald. Republicans Steve McKay and Mason Carter opposed it.
The bill includes an exception when an officer states that urgent circumstances require immediate entry. An Oct. 13 amendment defines those circumstances to include imminent threats to people or property, pursuit of a suspect and imminent destruction of evidence.
It also preserves legally permitted exchanges of citizenship or immigration-status information between law enforcement agencies. No penalty is included for county employees who misapply or fail to follow its provisions.
Those limits were central to the debate. McKay argued that a measure without penalties is unenforceable and said it conflicts with the county charter’s limits on council direction of executive staff. Young defended it as establishing policy rather than improperly directing employees.
Carter warned that restricting information sharing could expose the county to a federal sanctuary-jurisdiction designation and funding losses. Donald disputed that characterization and said the measure does not affect the Sheriff’s Department or school board. The report does not establish that any funding loss or federal designation has occurred.
Co-sponsors Duckett and Knapp said the county should respond to residents’ concerns about immigration enforcement. Keegan-Ayer said the guidance helps employees distinguish warrant types and respond consistently.
The bill received two public hearings after being amended. All speakers at those hearings supported passage, according to the newspaper, though some wanted stronger protections.
The vote establishes the council’s position. Disagreements over practical effects, enforceability and federal consequences remain the competing arguments of its members.
WHAT IT MEANS
The measure formalizes existing administration practices rather than creating a blanket ban on immigration enforcement. Its exceptions and limited scope matter when assessing what changes for county employees and residents.
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