Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly announced on April 14 his opposition to the recent passage of Maryland Senate Bill 791, which prohibits communication between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Cassilly said the legislation threatens public safety by restricting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration officials. He described the bill as a legal and constitutional concern for Harford County.
In his statement, Cassilly said, “Harford County has already suffered the loss of two innocent women brutally murdered by criminal illegal immigrants living in our midst. This state legislation attempts to prevent local law enforcement from communicating with federal immigration authorities about such criminals and puts more lives at risk in our community. As such, it amounts to an outrageous and unconstitutional gag order that is legally unsound. I support any effort by local law enforcement to communicate with federal law enforcement agencies despite this reckless law.”
The executive’s comments come after what he called a last-minute passage of the bill in the state legislature. The measure has drawn criticism from some officials who believe it could impact how crimes involving non-citizens are addressed at the county level.
Cassilly’s statement highlights ongoing debate over how local jurisdictions should interact with federal authorities regarding immigration matters. The implementation of Senate Bill 791 is expected to be closely watched across Maryland as counties consider its effects on public safety and interagency cooperation.
