A Presidential Executive Order designating more than 500 cities, counties and states as “sanctuary jurisdictions,” including Montgomery County, Rockville and Takoma Park, has been removed from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website.
However, Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Dr. Earl Stoddard said he would not be surprised if a revised list was issued and Montgomery County was cited on the new one.
Stoddard said that the National Sheriff’s Association, a group known for supporting President Donald Trump, issued a letter harshly criticizing the release of the DHS list of sanctuary jurisdictions, noting it was filled with errors and violated trust among fellow law enforcement officers.
I think that was the “turning point” in removing the list, Stoddard told MCM.
The original letter misspelled both Takoma Park and the state of Delaware.
A press release still posted on the DHS website condemns “sanctuary city politicians.”
County Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno told MCM the use of the word politicians implies individual people will be held responsible and accountable.
“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”
Executive Marc Elrich continues to maintain that Montgomery County is not a sanctuary county. Here’s what he wrote when the initial list of sanctuary locations was issued:
“We are not in violation of federal law, and we will not be making changes based on political headlines. Montgomery County has always cooperated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in cases involving violent crimes, serious felonies, and threats to public safety. That has been and remains our policy.”
