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TOWSON, Md.

The Baltimore County Council is taking up a controversial measure that takes aim at sanctuary cities, which prompted a large protest Tuesday in Towson.

Democratic leaders in Baltimore County, activists and immigrant-rights advocates rallied outside the old courthouse to protest County Bill 32-17, which would require the Baltimore County Detention Center to screen for illegal immigrants.

"Ladies and gentleman, this is a time for real leaders to stand up against hate and bigotry," Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said. "Not only is this bill unconstitutional, it's Un-American."

The protesters called the measure flawed and racist.

"That is not the Baltimore County that so many of the friends and neighbors that are here today support and live and breathe every day," said Elizabeth Alex, a regional director for CASA. "I think the introduction of this bill on May 1 signaled for a lot of folks a red flag that this is not the country I want to live in."

The protest came a week after the Trump administration released its proposed budget that essentially rewrites federal rules in order to pressure so-called sanctuary cities to help enforce immigration laws. Jurisdictions that don't comply risk losing millions of federal dollars.

The protest was staged two hours ahead of a public work session on the legislation, which is backed by the three Republicans on the County Council, including Todd Crandell, who said the bill is modeled after ones already adopted in Frederick and Harford counties.

"The 287G program has been around since 1996, in various forms," Crandell said. "It's a model that's very simple, (there's) no cost to implement to the taxpayers of Baltimore County, and will increase the level of public safety in our communities."

Crandell said the bill calls for teaming up with federal officials to enforce existing immigration laws.

"This isn't about detaining people beyond a release date," Crandell said. "(It) simply

would train Department of Corrections officers in Baltimore County, in our detention center, to assess the immigration status of someone who has committed or allegedly committed a crime egregious enough to be placed in the Department of Corrections."

Crandell told 11 News that he currently doesn't have enough votes to pass the bill, let alone by a veto-proof margin. The county executive has threatened a veto.

The bill goes up for a final vote on Monday.

WEBVTT , THEY RISK MILLIONS INFEDERAL DOLLARS.>> NOT ONLY IS THIS BILLUNCONSTITUTIONAL, IT ISUN-AMERICAN.KATE: A LARGE AND SPIRITED RALLYTO PROTEST COUNTY BUILD 3217.BACKED BY THE THREE REPUBLICANSON THE BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCIL,THE LEGISLATION WOULD REQUIRETHE DETENTION CENTER TO SCREENFOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.TODAY'S PROTEST WAS TIME TOCOINCIDE WITH THE MEETING.THEY CALLED THE BILL FLAWED ANDRACIST.>> THIS SIGNALED FOR A LOT OFFOLKS A RED FLAG.THIS IS NOT THE COUNTY AND WANTTO LIVE IN.KATE: SUPPORTERS INCLUDING TODDCRANDALL, ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT DETAININGPEOPLE BEYOND A RELEASE DATE.K: CRANDALL SAYS HIS BILL ISMODELED AFTER ONES THAT WEREDROPPED IN FREDERICK AND HARFORDCOUNTIES AND SAY IT -- IS SAIDIT CALLS FOR AN EXISTING LAW TOINCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY.>> SIMPLY WOULD TRAIN DEPARTMENTOF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS INBALTIMORE COUNTY IN OURDETENTION CENTER TO ASSESS THEIMMIGRATION STATUS OF SOMEONEWHO HAS COMMITTED OR ALLEGEDLYCOMMITTED A CRIME EGREGIOUSENOUGH TO BE PLACED IN THEDEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.K: HE TOLD US RIGHT NOW HE DOESNOT HAVE THE VOTES TO GET THEBILL PASSED LITTLE ON PAST IHAVE VETO PROOF MARGIN AND THECOUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS THREATENEDA VETO.THE BILL GOES UP FOR A FINALVOTE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL ONMONDAY NIGHT.

Originally posted here:
Bill would require jail to screen for illegal immigrants - WBAL Baltimore