Alsobrooks dodges ICE questions, blames GOP for immigration woes

FREDERICK, Md. (WBFF) — Prince George’s County Executive and Maryland U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks dodged local immigration enforcement questions Wednesday while talking to reporters after a campaign stop.

Alsobrooks joined Western Maryland's Democratic congressional nominee April Delaney to explain why the pair should be sent to Washington, D.C. in November.

Although the event was aimed at young voter engagement, Alsobrooks spoke to about 30 mainly older attendees gathered in the parking lot of Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick. The Prince George's County executive said that this might be the most important election in American history.

This election is one that is so consequential,” Alsobrooks said.

After Alsobrooks finished her brief stump speech, her campaign staff quickly led reporters to join her and Delaney under the tour bus's awning to ask a few questions to the political hopefuls.

FOX45 News asked Alsobrooks if her county will start complying with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers to assist in the deportation of dangerous illegal immigrants.

Alsobrooks shifted the responsibility for immigrant enforcement to the federal government.

Let me tell you this: First of all, the job and responsibility of enforcing immigration is the responsibility of the federal government,” Alsobrooks said. “It should not be the responsibility of local governments.”

Despite Alsobrooks's claim, immigration enforcement responsibility is often a partnership between local, state and federal officials.

Prince George's County's spotty compliance history

FOX45 News investigations in June and July revealed that there is no uniform statewide policy for honoring immigration detainers.

Local counties’ failure to honor lodged detainers means that ICE may not be aware when suspected violent criminals are released. These illegal immigrants are then released back into the community instead of being deported.

After reporting on high-profile cases where illegal immigrants were released in Maryland jurisdictions and went on to commit more violent crimes, Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties agreed to meet with ICE to strengthen their relationships.

Baltimore County officials faced sharp criticism in June as a result of FOX45 News reporting, leading County Executive Johnny Olszewski to meet with ICE officials to enhance cooperation and ensure detainers are honored.

"[Immigration] officials agreed to adjustments to current county policies in order to best support this shared work, including marking every effort to notify ICE officials 48 hours or more prior to an individual's release whenever possible," Baltimore County and ICE officials said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Prince George’s Countycontinues to functionas Maryland’s largest sanctuary jurisdiction, protecting illegal immigrants from being deported by federal law enforcement to their country of origin.

Gov. Wes Moore weighed in on local officials not cooperating with ICE detainers during a recent interview with political commentator Armstrong Williams.

They are violating federal law,” Gov. Moore said.

Alsobrooks blames local immigration problems on national Republicans

Alsobrooks told FOX45 News on Wednesday that congressional Republicans are to blame for the nation's broken immigration system.

[W]e need to have very comprehensive immigration reform in our country,” Alsobrooks said. “We would have had it if the Republicans had not started playing games.”

The Prince George's County executive said the nation's broken immigration system is a reason not to reelect former President Donald Trump and to instead put Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House.

Former Republican Governor Larry Hogan’s campaign responded to his Democratic opponent in the state’s Senate race. The campaign spokesperson said that Alsobrooks completely ignored the question and failed to provide Marylanders with meaningful answers.

“Marylanders and Prince George’s County residents deserve an answer: Why won’t County Executive Angela Alsobrooks cooperate with the federal government to keep violent reoffenders off the streets,” a Hogan campaign spokesperson said.

Gov. Moore is right that in disregarding the detainers issued by ICE, Country Executive Alsobrooks’ police is ‘violating federal law,” Hogan’s campaign added.

FOX45 News reached out on Friday afternoon to Gov. Moore’s office for comment. The governor’s office did not immediately respond.

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