Anne Arundel Ending Immigration Screening Program, Says Pittman

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Anne Arundel County will no longer check if immigrant detainees are in the country legally. County Executive Steuart Pittman made the announcement on Thursday.

The county had been conducting the screening under a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The contract allowed the county to act under section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Pittman says that after studying a report on the program, he felt the result was obvious, it "does not help make Anne Arundel County any safer. Our county detention staff should be focusing on local law enforcement rather than furthering controversial federal immigration policy."

Get all the latest information on what's happening in your community by signing up for Patch's newsletters and breaking news alerts

His decision was expected since Dec. 4 when he suspended the program.

Police Chief Timothy Altomare was at the news conference with Pittman.

He said that the department can do a better job without the 287(g) program in place because it leads people to fear the police and not trust them.

"We need communities to trust the police so we can solve crimes," he said.

Pittman did say that the county would continue the contract with the federal government that provides the county about $120 per ICE detainee per day.

He said that some of the money the county receives from that contact will be used to provide legal aid for some detainees.

Photo via Anne Arundel County.