WESTMINSTER, Md. — "Downright dumb."
That's how the Carroll County State's Attorney characterized the idea that officials would discourage police from honoring immigration detainers for criminals.
"That really didn't sit well with me," said Haven Shoemaker.
Last week Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown put out guidance for how local law enforcement agencies should handle cooperating with immigration and customs enforcement, or ICE.
RELATED: Carroll County State's Attorney slams Maryland Attorney General's ICE guidance
Brown said the U.S. constitution prevents the federal government from "commandeering" states to enforce certain federal laws.
Specifically regarding ICE detainers, Brown said they are requests only, and local police do not have to honor them.
Shoemaker fired back, issuing his own guidance for law enforcement in Carroll County.
Shoemaker pointed to a federal law that prohibits local and state governments from restricting information-sharing with immigration officials.
"The Attorney General fails to succinctly state that a federal statute, 8 U.S.C. § 1373(a) prohibits local and state governments and agencies from enacting laws or policies that limit communication with ICE," Shoemaker said in the initial press release last week.
In an interview with WMAR-2 News, he said, "I wanted to provide some context for law enforcement personnel here in Carroll County as to specific ways in which they could, and I'm not saying they have to, but they could cooperate with ICE, should they feel so inclined. And I hope they would."
That includes honoring those ICE detainers, sharing information about the immigration status of criminals, participating in joint task forces, and collaborating on deportation proceedings.
On our way out of the Carroll County Courthouse, after interviewing Shoemaker, a woman who is connected to the local immigrant community shared her fears.
"The immigrants out here are scared because now they can be victims of violence. If somebody attacks them, they can't go to the police for help," said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous. "People like me are afraid to go and stand up in places for them, because it'll put a target on us."
