Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott clarified the city’s approach to immigration enforcement on Wednesday.
Scott emphasized that while Baltimore will not actively support federal immigration actions, it will not obstruct federal authorities from carrying out their duties either.
His statement comes in response to President Donald Trump’s administration rolling out sweeping immigration directives, including mass deportation plans and an executive order targeting federal funding for so-called “sanctuary cities.”
At his weekly press conference, Scott reiterated that Baltimore police and other city agencies do not inquire about residents’ immigration status as part of their operations
“Our approach will not change,” Scott said. “We are watching what the administration actually does, not just what they say.”
Scott noted that Baltimore is not technically a sanctuary city, as it does not control the policies of jails, which are under state jurisdiction. However, the city remains committed to ensuring local law enforcement prioritizes crime prevention rather than enforcing federal immigration laws.
“BPD [Baltimore Police Department] and my officers are focused on preventing crime and violent offenders in Baltimore,” Scott said. “They will continue to do that and they will not be focused on enforcing a federal immigration law. The City won’t be asking residents about their immigration status. We will not be doing that in a law enforcement capacity or any connection with our city services.”
Trump’s administration has taken aggressive steps to pressure cities into cooperating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On Tuesday, Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove sent a memo instructing federal prosecutors to investigate and potentially charge local officials who refuse to comply with federal deportation plans.
Scott dismissed the threats, stating he is prepared to face any legal consequences, including detention, to uphold Baltimore’s policies.
“You think about some of the biggest freedom fighters in the world whether it be Dr. King, whether it be Malcolm X, whether it be Rosa Parks, all of those folks were actually put in jail for some period of time simply for doing the right thing,” he said. “We are prepared for that.”
He added that if detained, City Administrator Faith Leach would temporarily oversee city government.
Photo Credit: Instagram – MayorBMScott
