Trump declares Baltimore, other Maryland cities and counties to be 'sanctuary' jurisdictions

Carson Swick, Baltimore Sun on May 29, 2025

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President Donald Trump’s administration has declared Baltimore City, the state of Maryland and multiple counties and cities within the Old Line State to be “sanctuary” jurisdictions violating federal immigration laws — a move that could lead to grant cuts and other penalties for the city.

The move comes 31 days after Trump issued an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “publish a list of States and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.” A previous letter by Trump adviser Stephen Miller had threatened “criminal and civil liability” for jurisdictions the administration deemed were not complying with federal immigration laws.

The DHS lists eight Maryland counties — Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s and Talbot — as sanctuary jurisdictions. Ten Maryland cities were also on the list: Annapolis, Baltimore, Cheverly, College Park, Edmonston, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Rockville and Takoma Park.

Baltimore City response

In a statement Thursday evening, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott pushed back on the administration, once again saying Baltimore is “not a sanctuary city” because it lacks jurisdiction over prisons based in the city that are run by ICE and other federal immigration agencies. The mayor has previously said he does not use the term “sanctuary city” because it is politically charged and distracts from local law enforcement’s efforts to tackle crime.

“We follow our limited obligations as defined under federal immigration law. But we are a welcoming city, and we make no apologies for that,” the statement reads. “We are better because of our immigrant neighbors, and we are not about to sell them out to this administration.”

Scott’s statement concluded by suggesting the city could sue the Trump administration over the designation, as it already did over the dismantling of federal diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

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