Posted on 02/17/26
| News Source: WBAL TV
Baltimore County, MD - Feb. 17, 2026 - The Baltimore County Council took swift action Tuesday night to block the construction of an ICE detention center in Hunt Valley.
The emergency session came after the county executive learned the U.S. General Services Administration leased an office space in the county.
Councilmembers passed the legislation with a unanimous 6-0 vote.
"Bill 14-26, which will effectively outlaw all or any future detention centers here in Baltimore County starting Jan. 1, 2026. So, if there is a permit on file or somebody applied for a permit, it will be cancelled and we won't allow any future detention centers in Baltimore County," said Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones, D-District 4.
It marked a similar move Howard County made to prevent a private detention center in Elkridge.
While the exact purpose of the space is not known, there have been rumors, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said, that it could serve as a potential ICE office.
"If they own the property, they can do whatever they want to do. But, if they have to lease the property or someone else is involved, those are the people we can control. So, we can control property owners by not giving them permits," Jones said.
After the session, Councilman Izzy Patoka, D-District 2, introduced legislation that would prohibit law enforcement from wearing face masks in Baltimore County.
"There's no reason for it. It's the exact opposite of community policing," Patoka said. "To me, the masks have one reason alone: It's to create terror and to create fear."
In a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News on Tuesday night, Klausmeier said:
"In Baltimore County, protecting the safety, dignity, and rights of our communities is our top priority. This legislation responds to a troubling national pattern of immigrant families being detained in facilities that have opened without notice or consideration of community impact. The presence of such facilities can disrupt local businesses, strain public safety resources, and create significant disruption for surrounding communities.
"I thank the councilmembers who took swift and decisive action to support our communities and will continue working to ensure that every resident feels safe and secure."
U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, D-District 2, called for transparency and accountability. In a statement on Monday, Olszewski, whose district includes Hunt Valley, said, in part:
"I have heard directly from constituents who are deeply concerned that a significant ICE presence in our community could bring the same fear and instability that families in other neighborhoods across the country have experienced. Their concerns are valid — and I share them.
"I appreciate the proactive leadership of County Executive Kathy Klausmeier and the Baltimore County Council, including tonight's emergency legislative session to explore potential local guardrails and oversight.
"Baltimore and communities across America deserve safety, stability, and policies rooted in constitutional principles. Leaders at every level of government must work together to protect our residents, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that enforcement actions respect the rights and dignity of all people."
In a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said:
"ICE will not confirm office locations as our officers are facing a coordinated campaign of violence against them including an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a 1,300% increase in assaults against them. Is it really news that when a federal agency hires more personnel that they need more space? Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country. That's a 120% increase in our workforce."