AMERICAN IMMIGRATION COUNCIL • IRIS
Maryland Closes Zoning Loophole for Private Immigration Detention Facilities

Policy ID

MD-LA-2026-4-28
State Response
Statewide,
MD
Legislative Action

Short Description

Passed as an emergency measure by the Maryland House in February 2026 and signed by Governor Wes Moore, HB 1017 prohibits private companies from operating or occupying immigration detention facilities in areas not properly zoned for that use, closing a loophole that allowed detention centers to be sited without explicit local zoning authorization.

Date Adopted

04/28/2026

Updates

The bill advanced amid controversy over ICE’s purchase of a Washington County warehouse for conversion into a roughly 1,500-bed immigration detention facility; Maryland’s Attorney General separately sued to block that project over alleged environmental-review and public-notice failures.

References

See Also

Montgomery County, MD Council Passes County Values Act to Restrict ICE on County Property and Strengthen Staff Protocols

03/24/2026
Montgomery County
Legislative Action
MD

Maryland Bans 287(g) Immigration Enforcement Agreements

02/17/2026
Statewide
Legislative Action
MD

Howard County, MD Bills Limiting ICE Access and Banning Private Detention

02/09/2026
Howard County
Legislative Action
MD