Clarification on Wicomico County and Pausing the 287G Program Process
Wicomico County, MD - At the November 4, 2025 Wicomico County Council meeting, county officials announced they are placing the 287G program partnership with ICE on hold.
County Executive Julie Giordano, Sheriff Mike Lewis, and County Attorney Andrew Illuminati made this decision following Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's October 15, 2025 guidance memorandum outlining requirements for Maryland law enforcement cooperation with federal agencies.
The officials cited concerns that the upcoming Maryland State Legislative session may introduce legislation that would establish statewide protocols for working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies. Such legislation could nullify existing 287G agreements.
We reached out to the County Executive's Office for a statement and she provided us with the following quote from County Executive Julie Giordano:
"The decision to pause the 287(g) program was based solely on the legal guidance issued by Attorney General Brown's memo - not in response to protests or public pressure. While I understand that some individuals are upset, it's clear that the majority of Wicomico County residents support working in partnership with our federal partners, including ICE, to keep our community safe."
Rather than invest time and resources in a process that may become obsolete, county leadership chose to wait until after the legislative session concluded.
If no conflicting state legislation passes, Giordano and Lewis plan to resume the 287G process, at that time. This approach ensures efficient use of county resources while maintaining the option to pursue the program when circumstances permit.
The decision reflects responsible governance by avoiding potentially wasted effort while preserving future opportunities to implement the 287G program in Wicomico County.
Source Links Below
_1754575213489_1.jpg)