Harford County, MD – Federal agent safety and jail-based enforcement are at the center of a growing debate in Maryland this week after the Harford County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning following two recent self-defense incidents involving federal agents.
According to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, federal agents were forced to fire in self-defense after vehicles allegedly attempted to run them over while they were performing lawful duties. One incident occurred in Maryland, with another reported the same day in Minnesota. The sheriff’s office said the encounters highlight the dangers agents face during street-level operations.
Sheriff Jeff Gahler used the incidents to underscore his opposition to a proposal currently being considered by the Maryland General Assembly that would end participation in the federal 287(g) Jail Enforcement Model program. The program allows local jails to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration-related enforcement involving inmates already in custody.
“The safest way to provide this type of enforcement is in our jails,” the sheriff’s office stated, arguing that jail-based cooperation reduces the need for potentially dangerous field encounters. Sheriff Gahler said lawmakers would be making a “grave mistake” by attempting to outlaw the 287(g) program in Maryland.
Supporters of ending the program have raised concerns in past legislative sessions about community trust and the role of local law enforcement in federal immigration matters. Opponents, including several sheriffs across the state, counter that the program enhances public safety by focusing enforcement on individuals already arrested for other offenses.
The proposal remains under review in Annapolis, with no final vote announced as of Wednesday. Law enforcement leaders say the outcome could significantly impact how federal and local agencies coordinate public safety efforts across Harford County, neighboring counties, the Baltimore metro area, and the state of Maryland.
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