A Maryland sheriff warns that the state’s Community Trust Act may endanger public safety by releasing dangerous illegal immigrants back onto the streets.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler has issued a stark warning regarding Maryland’s new sanctuary law, the Community Trust Act, which he claims could lead to the release of dangerous illegal immigrants back into communities, potentially resulting in more crime and victims.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gahler expressed his concerns after testifying before a House Judiciary subcommittee about the law’s restrictions on cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. He is also spearheading a lawsuit alongside 16 other sheriffs, representing two-thirds of the state, challenging the legality of the Community Trust Act.
With over 40 years of law enforcement experience, Gahler’s primary fear is that the law will compel correctional officers to release individuals flagged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as public safety or national security threats.
“I don’t want to have to open the jail door and say, ‘Welcome back to Harford County. Go victimize. Let’s create some more victims,’” Gahler stated emphatically. “That is insane.” He further noted that if someone released under the law commits another crime, the responsibility would lie with the elected officials who enacted these restrictions.
“So whose hands is it on?” he questioned. “The politicians.” Gahler’s testimony aimed to provide lawmakers with a perspective from the front lines, as he accused state officials of prioritizing politics over public safety despite being aware of the risks involved.
“I think they understand. I think they don’t care,” Gahler remarked. He criticized those who support the legislation, asserting that they are more concerned with political correctness than the safety of their constituents. “We have a criminal-friendly legislature,” he added, labeling the current political climate as “pro-criminal.”
Gahler highlighted two tragic cases from his county that he believes exemplify the dangers of the new law. In August 2023, Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was raped and murdered on the Ma and Pa Trail. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was convicted and sentenced to life without parole for the crime. Similarly, Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old autistic woman, was raped and strangled in her home in July 2022. Walter Javier Martinez, a suspected MS-13 member who entered the U.S. illegally, was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 70 years suspended.
Gahler criticized supporters of Maryland’s immigration restrictions for failing to show genuine concern for the victims’ families. “No one called Patty Morin after Rachel’s murder,” he said, referring to the victim’s mother. He added that no one reached out to Kayla’s mother, Tammy Nobles, to offer condolences or support.
“I simply think that there are those in Annapolis and those in Washington who do not care,” Gahler stated. “It’s politics over public safety.” The Community Trust Act limits the circumstances under which Maryland authorities can inquire about a person’s immigration status, hold individuals for suspected civil violations, or notify ICE of their custody.
Governor Wes Moore allowed the measure to become law without his signature. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rhyan Lake, Senior Communications Strategist for Moore, emphasized that Maryland would not become a sanctuary for criminals. “In fact, since Governor Moore took office, Maryland is seeing some of the largest drops in violent crime in the country,” Lake noted.
Lake continued, “We will always work with the federal administration when it comes to making our communities safer, but untrained, unqualified, and unaccountable ICE agents arresting five-year-olds and ripping mothers from their families does not make anyone safer.”
Gahler and the other sheriffs argue that the restrictions dismantled a previously effective partnership with ICE under the federal 287(g) program. He clarified that his deputies do not conduct immigration raids or replace federal agents but rather work collaboratively with them. “We do not do ICE’s job for them,” Gahler stated. “We work with our federal partners.”
He explained that the 287(g) program allowed for the identification and transfer of individuals already in custody for criminal offenses, ensuring that these transfers occurred safely within the jail rather than through potentially dangerous arrests after release.
“Anytime we don’t have to do a raid in law enforcement, it’s safer,” Gahler remarked. “You have the person secured. Turn them over to ICE because ICE says they pose a threat to public safety or national security.”
Gahler noted that opposition to the program has fluctuated with the political climate, mentioning that Harford County joined under President Barack Obama but faced renewed criticism during President Donald Trump’s administration. “They’re doing it for purely political reasons and not public safety,” he stated, dismissing the arguments against the program as “complete nonsense.”
He compared Maryland’s situation to California, suggesting that both states are competing to implement policies that favor offenders over victims. “I look at Maryland and California as playing a game of tennis,” Gahler said, accusing them of “whacking the ball back and forth across the court to see who can be more idiotic.”
As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks approaches, Gahler emphasized the importance of effective communication among law enforcement agencies, a lesson he believes is being forgotten. “The complete takeaway from 9/11 was that we didn’t communicate effectively across local, state, and federal agencies,” he said. “Yet 25 years later, Maryland has moved dangerously far from that lesson.”
Gahler concluded by stating that the sheriffs will continue to advocate for victims and press their case in court. He warned that unless state leaders change course, more families may join a growing list of those affected by crime committed by individuals in the country illegally. “Our job should be to stop increasing the number of angel families,” he said, “and stop allowing American citizens to be the victims of crime committed by people who are in our country illegally,” according to Fox News Digital.