Prince George’s County lead organizer Jennifer Dwyer delivered Progressive Maryland’s testimony Feb. 28 to the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of a bill protecting vulnerable immigrant populations in Maryland from “unethical, racist and legally questionable” practices of the Trump administration, insulating local governments from complying with federal demands.

Prince George’s County lead organizer Jennifer Dwyer delivered Progressive Maryland’s testimony Feb. 28 to the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of a bill protecting vulnerable immigrant populations in Maryland from “unethical, racist and legally questionable” practices, insulating local governments from complying with federal forces.

 Thank you for the opportunity to testify on House Bill 1362. Progressive Maryland is a grassroots, nonprofit organization of more than 100,000 members and supporters who live in nearly every legislative district in the state. In addition, there are 18 affiliated religious, community and labor organizations that stand behind our work. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families in Maryland. Please note our strong support for this bill.

 HB 1362 helps to protect vulnerable immigrant communities in the state of Maryland from the unethical, racist, and legally questionable immigration policies coming from the Trump administration by limiting the ability of local governments to assist with the enforcement of these policies.  

 Since taking office, President Trump has taken numerous actions that threaten the health, safety, and welfare of immigrant populations, specifically those from Latin America and the Middle East. Obviously, and by the admission of the Trump administration, these policies are racially and religiously motivated, and the state of Maryland absolutely should not participate in destroying peoples’ lives because of where they were born or their religious expression.  

 The Trump administration’s call for local police to act like immigration enforcement and expansion of immigrants targeted for deportation means families would be torn apart, and residents who have spent decades making a life in our state would lose everything they’ve worked for and be sent away to an extremely uncertain and possibly perilous future.

 Maryland residents deserve protection from federal immigration policies fueled by hatred. We urge a favorable report for HB 1362.

 HB 1362 and its Senate counterpart SB0835 have received hearings in House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings committees, respectively, but have not yet at this writing (March 2) been reported to the floor of either body.