Montgomery County leaders ceremonially sign four bills to expand protections for immigrant residents

Montgomery County leaders held a ceremonial signing in Rockville on June 1 for a package of four bills intended to strengthen protections for immigrant residents and to reinforce trust between immigrant communities and local government.

The measures — the County Values Act, the Unmask ICE Act, the ICE Out Act and the Vehicle Recovery Act (expedited bill 14-26) — were described by officials as a coordinated effort to limit certain local interactions with federal immigration enforcement, prohibit privately operated immigration detention facilities within the county, require immigration officers to display identification while on duty, and expand the types of identification accepted when residents retrieve impounded vehicles.

"We're facing a crisis in Montgomery County and nationwide on immigration. Our families are under attack and as an immigrant myself, I take this very personal," said a participant who identified as an immigrant, urging elected officials to "build a caring economy and a caring society" that supports residents regardless of birthplace.

"One of the legislations, the County Values Act, establishes clear guidelines for how county departments respond if federal immigration agents request access to county facilities," a county presenter said, summarizing the intent of the Values Act.

Councilmember Will Jawando, who identified himself as the author of the Unmask ICE Act, said he was "not glad to be here" but called the legislation necessary, noting that roughly one-third of county residents are foreign-born and that "if you add up the kids of immigrants, you get to 45%." Jawando also said all four bills "have been passed unanimously by the council."

Another councilmember who led expedited bill 14-26 described the Vehicle Recovery Act as widening acceptable forms of identification for the retrieval of impounded vehicles and said the package will help impacted families.

Supporters said the ICE Out Act was introduced in response to proposals elsewhere — the speaker cited a plan in Hagerstown to build a privately owned detention center — and that Montgomery County would not permit privately run immigrant detention facilities within its borders. "That's why I introduced the ICE Out Act, inviting all of my colleagues to co-lead that," the speaker said.

Officials linked the new bills to prior local initiatives, saying the measures build on the county’s earlier Trust Act and reflect coordinated sponsorship and advocacy by council leaders and community advocates. County officials said the goals are to increase access to services, protect residents’ rights and strengthen trust with immigrant communities.

The event concluded with applause after the brief remarks and ceremonial signing. County officials did not provide vote tallies in the remarks but stated the council had passed the measures unanimously. No implementation timeline or enforcement details were specified at the signing.