The Trump administration has named College Park and several other Prince George’s County and Maryland cities as sanctuary jurisdictions, which the administration says do not comply with federal laws and executive orders about immigration.
The Department of Homeland Security released a list on Thursday, which names Maryland, eight of its counties and 10 cities, including Annapolis and Baltimore, as sanctuary jurisdictions.
Hyattsville and Greenbelt, which neighbor College Park, were also named sanctuary jurisdictions.
The states, counties and cities listed as sanctuary jurisdictions are set to receive a non-compliance notification, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The department also demands that the jurisdictions review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws, according to its website.
The list comes about a month after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to “identify and publicly highlight” jurisdictions refusing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agencies.
The list of more than 500 sanctuary jurisdictions across the country could have their federal funds, grants and contracts revoked or suspended as a result of the designation, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.
[Trump administration to begin ‘aggressively’ revoking Chinese students’ visas]
In a statement on Friday, College Park said the news of its inclusion on the list was “surprising” as it hasn’t declared itself a sanctuary city and hasn’t received any detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement because the city does not have a police department, jail or access to criminal records.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to the safety and well-being of all our residents,” the statement read. “The City of College Park complies with all laws and treats all residents justly and equally.”
The city has not yet received any notice or communication from the homeland security department, according to the news release.
In a statement on Friday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore wrote that the state’s law enforcement officers work “tirelessly” with federal officials to root out crime and violent offenders, regardless of an “arbitrary list” from the Trump administration.
“From the Trump Administration, we’re seeing chaos across the board — targeting immigrant workers, ignoring Supreme Court decisions, and deporting U.S. citizen children,” Moore wrote in the statement. “Our approach as a state will be driven by public safety — not by meaningless labels or performative actions.”
Prince George’s County cooperates with federal immigration authorities in criminal cases and complies with state and federal immigration laws, Acting Prince George’s County Executive Tara Jackson wrote in a statement on Friday.
“The Trump administration’s characterization of Prince George’s County as a ‘sanctuary county’ does not alter our approach,” the statement read. “We will continue to focus on policies that promote safety, trust and inclusivity, ensuring that all residents feel secure in accessing county services and participating in our community.”
The county council did not immediately respond to The Diamondback’s request for comment.
Assistant news editor Sam Gauntt contributed to this story.
