The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a lawsuit against Maryland, alleging that the state is obstructing federal immigration enforcement through its sanctuary policies. The lawsuit, submitted on July 10, 2026, in federal court, follows a directive from the U.S. Attorney General in February 2025 to identify state and local policies that provide sanctuary to undocumented migrants. The DOJ claims that Maryland's Community Trust Act, enacted this year, undermines public safety by hindering immigration-related arrests and deportations.
Associate U.S. Attorney General Stanley Woodward stated that the lawsuit demonstrates the DOJ's commitment to addressing what it views as unlawful actions by state leaders. The lawsuit contends that the Community Trust Act violates the supremacy clause of the Constitution, which mandates that state laws must align with federal laws. The DOJ asserts that the law has led to local authorities not cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The lawsuit cites an incident from May 29, 2026, where a warden from a Worcester County Jail informed an ICE officer that the facility would no longer honor ICE detainers due to the Community Trust Act. The law stipulates that Maryland correctional facilities cannot transfer individuals into federal custody without a valid judicial warrant, while the DOJ argues that immigration law permits arrests through administrative warrants.
Seventeen of Maryland's 24 sheriffs have also filed a lawsuit against the state, claiming that the Community Trust Act hampers their ability to work with ICE regarding individuals in custody who may pose public safety threats. Governor Wes Moore, who did not sign the Community Trust Act, acknowledged the potential public safety implications during a conversation with the sheriffs. Moore's office confirmed this conversation took place but declined to comment on the DOJ lawsuit, instead criticizing former President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies.