immigration

BALTIMORE (AP) - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says Congress needs to act on immigration reform in light of President Donald Trump's plan to phase out a program protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation.

The Baltimore Sun reports the Republican governor gave his first direct remarks Thursday about Trump's decision. 

The governor adds he "personally" opposes the plan. He says he thinks the focus should be on criminals, not "innocent children that came here through no fault of their own."

As the decision by the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA rallies are planned at the offices of Delaware Governor John Carney and the state’s Democratic senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons.

Organizers notes that both senators have expressed strong support for the program that allows undocumented immigrants brought to this country by their parents as children to stay in the U.S.

It’s is an executive order that was issued by then President Obama as congress failed to provide comprehension immigration reform.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore's police commissioner has taken exception to questions from the U.S. Department of Justice that appear to link participation in a crime-fighting program to immigration policies.

In a letter dated Monday, Kevin Davis says he received a letter on Aug. 2 from the Justice Department saying Baltimore meets the requirements for a federal training and technology assistance program to address violent crime.

BALTIMORE (AP) - More than 30 employees at a Baltimore waterfront eatery didn't show up to work after an owner says Immigration and Customs Enforcement started reviewing its records.

The Baltimore Sun reports co-owner Gene Singleton says The BoatHouse Canton received an ICE request on Thursday to review I-9 forms. He says the more than 90 remaining staff had to keep pace with demand, including a 400-person event on Sunday.

ICE spokesman Matthew Bourke says the agency doesn't "confirm the existence of any ongoing investigation."

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Anne Arundel County is joining other jurisdictions that screen inmates at local jails for immigration violations.

The Capital Gazette reports that federal immigration officials and the county have finalized a deal under which county correctional officers will be trained to use federal databases that check inmates for immigration violations, warrants and past crimes.  

A spokesman for County Executive Steve Schuh said earlier this year that it was part of a "moderate and measured approach" to enforcing immigration laws.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Maryland defense attorney and his interpreter are charged with trying to intimidate a rape victim by raising the possibility of deportation if she testified against their client.

A Baltimore grand jury indicted attorney Christos Vasiliades and interpreter Edgar Rodriguez on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and intimidate a victim and a witness.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has pardoned a minor driving offense committed years ago by an immigrant mother of two, saying he hopes this will help prevent her deportation by President Donald Trump's administration.

The case of 30-year-old Liliana Cruz Mendez of Falls Church has become emblematic of tougher immigration policies under Trump.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - One of Virginia's largest cities could officially declare that it's not a "sanctuary city" for immigrants.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that city officials in Chesapeake are considering drafting a resolution.

City Councilman Robert Ike says it would send a message to undocumented workers. Others say it's unnecessary and could send the wrong message to immigrant communities.

Sanctuary cities limit their cooperation with the federal government's enforcement of immigration laws.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia state lawmakers are set to return to the Capitol to consider Gov. Terry McAuliffe's vetoes and amendments to legislation they passed earlier this year.

Lawmakers will also consider the governor's tweaks to the state budget at the so-called "veto session" on Wednesday.

The governor, a Democrat, vetoed 40 pieces of legislation on hot-button social issues like guns, abortion and immigration. The Republicans who control the General Assembly do not have the super majorities required in both chambers to overturn a veto.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland supporters of a bill they say would increase trust between immigrants and local law enforcement are pushing to move the measure to passage in the last week of the legislative session. Opponents, meanwhile, are working to stop it.

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler came to Annapolis Monday to underscore their concerns. They say the measure will impede local jails from holding people on immigration detainers and make the state "a magnet" for people in the country illegally with criminal records.

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Students and parents whose Maryland high school has been dragged into the national immigration debate declined to comment about an alleged rape case involving a 14-year-old girl and a suspect authorities say came to the U.S. illegally from Central America.

Thursday evening in the parking lot of Rockville High School, one mother would only point to a sign of red plastic cups in a ballpark fence that read "Rockville Strong."

The Christina School Board has inched forward to create a sanctuary for undocumented students.

This week the board with a unanimous vote initially approved the decision with a second reading set for April 11th.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that the board approved an actually policy rather than a simple resolution giving measure more permanence.

The decision directs school personnel are to refer all requests by immigration officials to the Superintendent for the purpose of getting a legal review of the order.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's attorney general has joined 13 other states in opposing President Donald Trump's revised travel ban.

Brian Frosh said in a news release that on Monday he filed an amicus brief in the District Court for Hawaii.  Hawaii has asked for a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of the president's revised travel ban.

Frosh says the proposed ban will hurt Maryland's universities and economy.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) - A William & Mary professor says there's no compelling evidence to show that immigration leads to more crime.

Sociology department chair Graham Ousey says in a university press release that some studies show immigrants are less likely to be criminals.

Ousey is the co-author of a recent analysis of 50 studies on the subject. He co-authored the paper with Charis Kubrin of the University of California-Irvine.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly have approved legislation banning localities from restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The Senate voted along party lines Wednesday to approve the measure after a contentious debate about what kind of message it would send.

The minority caucuses in Maryland General Assembly say they are backing a measure that would limit the state’s cooperation with deportation authorities.

This is the first time that the Latino, black and Asian American Pacific Islands caucuses have banded together for a new law.

The measure would forbid keeping undocumented immigrants longer than local guidelines despite a request from federal authorities.

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (AP) - A Howard County leader says he will veto a controversial bill declaring the county a safe place for undocumented immigrants.

Media outlets report the county council passed the bill Monday. It would also limit county employees' involvement in enforcing federal immigration law.

The bill originally had a "sanctuary county" label, but it was removed to allay fears the federal government might pull funding from the county.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's attorney general is requesting information on any detentions in Virginia resulting from President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration.

Attorney General Mark Herring said in a statement Sunday that his request includes anyone with lawful permanent resident status or work or student visas. The Democrat's also requesting information about whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection is complying with an order giving lawful permanent residents detained at Dulles International Airport access to attorneys.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam has joined a group of labor and community activists at a rally in support of raising Virginia's minimum wage and offering driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Dozens of people gathered Thursday outside the Capitol for the demonstration.

Northam, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor, said it's impossible for Virginians to support their families on the current $7.25 minimum wage.

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - Maryland Gov.-elect Larry Hogan is celebrating the re-election of a county sheriff known for his tough approach to undocumented immigration and drug trafficking.

Hogan is scheduled to speak Friday at the swearing-in ceremony in Frederick for Frederick County sheriff and fellow Republican Chuck Jenkins.

Jenkins has embraced federal programs allowing local police to enforce immigration laws.

Senator Ben Cardin says that President’s decision to temporarily allow some 5 million undocumented immigrants to stay in this country is a sign that the congress should act.

The Maryland Democrat  noted that the Senate voted 18 months ago for a comprehensive immigration bill on a vote of 68-to-32 and that the House of Representatives has failed to act.

Meanwhile, Senator Tom Carper also blasted the House for failing to approve legislation and that the president was justified in being frustrated with Congress in failing to deal with immigration reform.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Many of the child migrants placed with Delaware families are living in Sussex County.

That's according to new figures released this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that 114 minors apprehended by immigration authorities without a parent or guardian since January have been placed with sponsors in Delaware's southernmost county while they await immigration hearings and potential deportation.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland officials are scheduled to discuss steps the state is taking to support the federal government's efforts to help unaccompanied children from Central America.

Ted Dallas, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, is scheduled to hold a teleconference call on Tuesday with Anne Sheridan, who is director of the Governor's Office for Children.

State officials have been meeting with clergy around the state in recent weeks to discuss ways of helping children who have been crossing the border to escape violence in Central America.