Prince George's, Montgomery counties prepare protections, legal pushback against possible ICE surge

Prince George’s and Montgomery counties are mobilizing a mix of legal, administrative and public protections in response to reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to expand its presence in Maryland, with local leaders targeting Hyattsville’s Metro 1 building at 6505 Belcrest Road. County officials are preparing large bilingual signs and an executive restriction aimed at limiting federal operations in county-run spaces, and advocates have taken to the streets in protest.

The two counties together are home to more than half of the state’s foreign-born population, a demographic reality officials cited as they weighed actions to prevent ICE activity in municipal facilities. ICE has for years leased space in Hyattsville for its legal team, and Metro 1 sits a few hundred yards from the Hyattsville Immigration Court and near two churches, a child care center and the Mall at Prince George’s, stoking local alarm about any expansion.

County leaders rolled out the first formal measure when Braveboy signed an executive order that prohibits the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement from issuing occupancy permits to ICE. Braveboy said, “We are taking decisive action to protect our diversity and those residents who chose to call America and Prince George’s County home.” She added, “We are establishing that county buildings, garages and parking lots are safe spaces in Prince George’s County — safe from ICE operations and other federal interventions that disrupt the quality of life for people in Prince George’s County.”

Officials also plan to post large bilingual signs in English and Spanish informing the public that county-run government buildings, garages and other facilities are locations where ICE is not allowed. Braveboy said the decision to print the signs in both English and Spanish “was an easy one,” and Maryland Matters reporting notes the signs were expected to start going up in about two weeks. Braveboy said she will seek to have the executive order she signed Thursday drafted into legislation and passed by the council.

Community response has been vocal. Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha spoke at a Hyattsville rally on Feb. 19 and said, “We are concerned. They’re saying it’s for legal-office use, but it’s a large facility.” At the same event Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-4th, led a march and said, “I think it’s critical for us to understand that we’ve got to fight back and we’ve got to win,” adding, “The target has already been on our back, since Jan. 20 of last year.” Oriadha’s longer appeal at the rally asked for federal leadership to protect families, saying, “It is gonna take the leadership of our federal government to be bold, to be unapologetic, to be loud, to be fierce in this moment,” and warning that immigrant families fear being taken while going about daily life.

Property records and commercial listings show Metro 1 is registered to a mailing address for The Bernstein Companies and is listed by KLNB, though neither The Bernstein Companies nor KLNB responded to requests for comment. ICE spokesperson Casey Latimer declined to answer questions about plans for Metro 1 and said the agency “will not confirm office locations as our officers are facing a coordinated campaign of violence against them.”

The local moves come as ICE purchased a Washington County warehouse in Williamsport that could be converted to a detention facility and as Howard County officials rejected a planned privately run detention center in Elkridge. Washington County officials have said there is nothing they can do to stop ICE’s purchase of the Williamsport warehouse.

Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are also set to debate a series of bills aimed at limiting ICE activity, and county leaders and advocates say they will press for legislative and administrative barriers in addition to the executive order, while demanding clarity on any proposed leases. The coming weeks will test whether signage, permitting bans and council legislation can blunt an expansion that has already prompted rallies, marches and sustained political pushback.