Public Safety Should Come Before Politics
By Mark Lamb
As a former sheriff, I spent more than two decades working to protect communities, support victims, and keep dangerous criminals off our streets. That experience taught me something simple. Public safety works best when law enforcement officers are allowed to do their jobs and communicate with one another.
Take a look at this video I shared on X. I am deeply concerned by what is happening in Maryland and I think you should be too.
Watch This Video
Seventeen Maryland sheriffs have filed a lawsuit challenging the state's new Community Trust Act, arguing that it restricts their ability to share information with federal immigration authorities and effectively cuts off cooperation with ICE. According to the sheriffs, the law eliminates long-standing tools that have helped identify and remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities.
The debate is not about law-abiding immigrants seeking a better life. It is about whether local law enforcement should be prevented from communicating with federal agencies when individuals who have violated our laws are already in custody.
For years, programs such as 287(g) allowed local agencies to work alongside federal immigration officials to identify criminal offenders who were in the country illegally. Maryland lawmakers have now moved to eliminate those partnerships and further restrict communication between local law enforcement and ICE. The sheriffs bringing this lawsuit argue that these changes make their communities less safe and remove important tools that have proven effective.
What stood out to me most was not just the lawsuit itself. It was the families standing beside those sheriffs.
Among them was the mother of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman who was brutally raped and murdered in 2023 by an illegal immigrant. Her family's pain is a reminder that immigration policy is not an abstract political debate. The consequences are real, and they are often borne by innocent victims and their loved ones.
Supporters of the Community Trust Act argue that the law is designed to build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. They believe individuals should not fear reporting crimes or cooperating with police because of immigration concerns. That goal is important.
But public safety should never require law enforcement to operate with one hand tied behind its back.
When elected officials prevent sheriffs and deputies from sharing information with federal authorities about criminal offenders, they are putting politics ahead of common sense. The first responsibility of government is to protect its citizens. Any policy that makes it harder to identify, detain, and remove dangerous criminals deserves serious scrutiny.
The men and women who wear the badge understand what is at stake. They see the consequences of failed policies firsthand. They are the ones who answer the calls, notify families, and stand with victims when tragedy strikes.
As a former sheriff and a candidate for Congress, I will always stand with law enforcement, support secure borders, and fight for policies that put the safety of American families first.
Because when it comes to public safety, ideology should never come before protecting the people we are sworn to serve.
