A member of the Montgomery County Council introduced legislation Monday that would prohibit privately owned immigration detention facilities from operating in the county.
Councilmember Evan Glass said the proposed ICE Out Act is intended to prevent private companies from opening detention centers for immigrants in Montgomery County.
“There are too many of our neighbors who are living in fear,” Glass said after the press conference. “We see that there are people being taken and put into detention centers all around the country. And we want to make sure that here in Montgomery County, we do not build detention centers for immigrants.”
The bill would deny permits required for privately operated detention facilities to open and operate in the county. Glass said the measure is designed to act proactively rather than in response to a specific proposal.
“We are prohibiting ICE from opening detention centers here. Full stop,” Glass said. “We need to respect and protect all members of our community.”
Immigration enforcement is carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency. While the county does not control federal enforcement actions, it does have authority over local zoning and business regulations.
The Federal Agency also had said, in other cases in the United States, that detention facilities used by ICE meet federal standards and are subject to oversight.
Allison Beltran, a full-time organizer with La ColectiVA, said her organization reviewed the draft legislation and supports the proposal.
“We believe that this act is an opportunity to add yet another layer of protection for our neighbors in Montgomery County,” Beltran said. She added that fear in immigrant communities extends beyond deportation to concerns about surveillance, loss of income and access to public resources.
The bill will move through the council’s legislative process, including committee review and public hearings.
