LULAC Applauds Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley for Policy Change, Announcing Maryland will no Longer Adhere to Indiscriminate Detention of Undocumented Individuals

April 22, 2014

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org

Washington, D.C. - LULAC hails the recent decision by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to stop complying with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency’s request that local jails detain all immigrants for deportation. Instead, the Baltimore City Detention Center will begin to hold only those immigrants who have been charged with or convicted of a felony or a serious misdemeanor. Governor O’Malley’s recent change in policy makes Baltimore one of the many cities in the United States that is applying a common sense and humanitarian standard in dealing with its undocumented population.

“Governor O’Malley has always been a champion for immigration reform,” said Dr. Yvette Butler, LULAC Maryland State Director. “His change in policy regarding the standard for detaining immigrants underscores his commitment to treat the immigrant community fairly and will help ensure that families remain together.”

Last summer, the Senate, in a bipartisan effort, passed the immigration reform bill, S.744. While voters across the country support immediate action to fix our broken immigration system, the House of Representatives has refused to act. Earlier this spring, LULAC met with Governor O’Malley to discuss the need for Congress to pass immigration reform. Specifically, the group requested that the Governor work with the Maryland Congressional Delegation to pass an immigration reform bill that meets the needs of the Latino community, including an earned path to citizenship. His support in this effort is appreciated. Each day of inaction by the House results in about 1,100 needless deportations, and one-fourth of all deportees are parents of U.S. citizen children.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.

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