In a big, patriotic move that quite cuts against the grain of what their state generally is doing, the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, has passed a resolution that firmly commends and backs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and encourages partnerships between local police, state police, and federal immigration authorities.
The resolution, which provides that the county remains in “full support” of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and other federal immigration agents, was passed on Tuesday, February 10. It is quite contrary to the general trend in the blue state of Maryland, where a whopping eight counties and ten cities were found by the Trump Administration to be “sanctuary” jurisdictions.
Washington County is in the Western part of the state, abutting West Virginia, helping explain the decision. In any case, on Tuesday, the Board passed the resolution, which provides that it “encourages ongoing cooperation and partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure the welfare and security of all citizens and legal residents.”
“The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County hereby declares its intent to support DHS and ICE in the enforcement of our nation’s borders, safeguarding the integrity of our immigration system, and ensuring that all persons are treated with dignity and compassion within our jurisdiction,” the resolution states.
It goes on to provide, commenting on the relationship between state, local, and federal law enforcement within the county bounds, “The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Maryland, hereby expresses its full support for DHS and ICE, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and local municipal law enforcement agencies in their efforts to maintain public safety and uphold the rule of law.”
Adding to that, it notes that such cooperation is critical to ensuring the safety, welfare, and security of its residents, and thus is the responsiblity of the authorities, asying, “The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County encourages ongoing cooperation and partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure the welfare and security of all citizens and legal residents within our jurisdiction.”
And, announcing its decision to support ICE fully and in whatever ways possible to ensure American immigration law is enforced, the resolution provides, “The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County hereby declares its intent to support DHS and ICE in the enforcement of our nation’s borders, safeguarding the integrity of our immigration system, and ensuring that all persons are treated with dignity and compassion within our jurisdiction.”
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Concluding, the resolution provided that it would send off a copy to all the relevant authorities so that they understand its decision to fully support ICE and the related authorities in their fight to enforce American immigration law to the fullest extent of the law. It said, “This resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption, and a copy shall be transmitted to the DHS, ICE, and local law enforcement agencies as a sign of our unwavering support and commitment to their mission.”
Watch them pass it here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video