Gov. Larry Hogan Tows Trump & Carson's Party Line on Syrian Refugees // Will HoCo's Exec Allan Kittleman Break With GOP?

By Matt Verghese

A SHAME IN MARYLAND: In the week following the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris, 30 Governors have said they won’t allow Syrian refugees to resettle in their states until security concerns are concerned. All but one of those governors have been a Republican.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan - who is huddling with his fellow Republican Governors at their conference in Las Vegas this week - had initially sought more time to make a “reasoned and careful decision“ but a day later followed the direction of  almost all the Republican candidates for President and called on federal authorities to “cease any additional settlements of refugees from Syria in Maryland.”

Granted, Hogan - nor any of his fellow governors - don’t really have anything with whether refugees are allowed into the US or where they are resettled. Though they can make the lives of women and children fleeing a violent civil war even more miserable. Also it doesn’t seem to matter that of the 2 million refugees welcomed in the US since 1990, zero have been involved in a terrorist attack.

THE ACTUAL SCREENING PROCESS FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES: The US - which has a stringent 18-24 months process to vet and approve refugees - admitted less than 200 Syrian refugees between 2011 and 2014, and only recently quickened the pace. According to the US State Department, 39 such refugees have resettled in Maryland since 2011 - 79% of them arriving in 2015. The United States had planned to accept 10,000 refugees in 2016. In contrast, French President Francois Hollande said his country would accept 30,000, and expend 50 million euros to support refugee housing.

MARYLAND DEMOCRATS RESPOND: Hogan’s decision has drawn widespread criticism from Democrats. Rep. Cummings called Hogan’s actions “heartless” and “a betrayal of America’s values” while Rep. Van Hollen decried the Governor’s “shameful” demagoguery. Former Governor O’Malley - who was the first Democratic candidate for President to call on the Obama Administration to accept more refugees fleeing Syria’s civil war -- called on Americans to “overcome fear and remain true to [our] values.”

Local Democratic leaders have also sought to separate themselves from the Governor. Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake released the following statement (emphasis mine):

BALTIMORE MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE: Baltimore, Maryland and the United States have proud traditions of welcoming refugees seeking assistance from crises around the world. There are few among us who can claim that their ancestors were indigenous to the United States. Welcoming immigrants and New Americans is a critical part of my strategy to grow Baltimore, and I hope that refugees from Syria will look to our city as a potential place to call home.

This call was echoed today by the Democratic members of the Howard County Council. On Thursday, In a letter to Governor Hogan, the four Democratic members of the Council - Mary Kay Sigaty, Calvin Ball, Jenn Terrasa and Jon Weinstein - stated (emphasis mine):

HOCO DEMOCRATIC COUNCILMEMBERS: In Howard County, we know that our diversity is our strength. Your request to end the settlement of Syrian refugees under the guise of protecting Marylanders erodes that strength by succumbing to fear—a fear that leads to overt racial profiling, which is an affront to our values. Opening our doors to those who are fleeing violence does not endanger our safety; it shows our compassion and hope.

1 in 5 of Howard County’s residents are foreign born and come from over 90 countries. None of Maryland’s current Syrian refugees are located in the County.

WAITING FOR KITTLEMAN: A spokeswoman for Governor Hogan reiterated his stance on Friday. There has been no response from Republican County Executive Allan Kittleman. Blinding following national Trump-Carson Republican herd not only threatens Hogan and Kittleman image as as kinder, gentler Republicans - but their compelling sales pitch as non-ideological, post-partisan executives. Sure, there may be no direct political risk (and as the Huffington Post wrote - hating refugees is pretty much as American as apple pie) - but calls into question their reputation. Hogan and Kittleman still need Democrats to govern - and and mean-spirited decisions could poison the well and erode trust.

Democratic Members of Congress, Clergy & CASA Leader Arrested in Protests over Mass Deportations & Immigration

DAN FURMANSKY: Democratic Members of Congress, Clergy Arrested in Civil Disobedience for Immigration Reform; CASA’s Gustavo Torres Taken Into Custody; Maryland Rabbi Leads “Prayer-In” at Eric Cantor’s Office; More than 1,000 still being deported every day.

Approximately 15,000 people converged on the national mall today and marched to the Capitol building to call attention to stalled immigration reform legislation. No surprise that the soulless Republican majority in the House of Representatives has refused to move the bill passed by the Senate, even with its broad bipartisan support. They’re too busy snatching food assistance from hungry Americans and trying to get the Supreme Court to strike down individual aggregate contribution limits so they can ensure that the wealthy have an even greater say over who gets elected in this country.

But I digress.

The inspiring news is that nearly two hundred brave leaders were arrested in acts of civil disobedience as part of Camino Americano, “a massive demonstration of solidarity and support for comprehensive immigration reform.” It was the third major act of civil disobedience by immigration reform advocates in the past few months alone. This includes 12 members of Congress, including Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Raul Grivjalva (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), Al Green(D-TX), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky, (D-Ill.), and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)

Rep. John Lewis once again proves why he is social justice legend.  According to his office, it is at least the 45th time he has been arrested—40 times during the civil rights movement alone and 5 times as a member of Congress.



According to ABC News, Gutierrez pledged in a speech to “lock arms with my colleagues and go to jail today for the father who was deported and cannot see his children, see them grow up, and see them prosper in the United States, the country of their birth.

To give credit where credit is due, there were apparently some Republicans in the crowd. Reports The Huffington Post (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: Several Republicans turned out for the rally as well. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a long-time supporter of reform and the only GOP member of a bipartisan working group on immigration who didn't quit, appeared on stage, along with Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). They did not participate in the protest later in the afternoon.

Apparently they didn’t want to get their hands too dirty.

Our own Gustavo Torres, head of Casa de Maryland, was also taken into custody.

Photo courtesy of Casa de Maryland

So were countless faith leaders, including my old boss, the Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, who was also arrested in Phoenix during our protest of SB1070. “Our laws are more than broken, they’re evil,” he said today.

Right on.

Also arrested was Rabbi Jason Kimmelman-Block, of Silver Spring, who addressed the crowd on the Mall and led others in prayer at the office of Representative Eric Cantor, the only Jewish leader in the House Republican caucus. Rabbi Kimmel-Block, a father of four, is the rabbi-in-residence for the great advocacy group Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. As we Jews say when someone performs a mitzvah, or good deed, Yasher koach, Rabbi.



I don’t mean to be the Debbie Downer in the room, and I would love to be proved wrong, but I simply cannot imagine the dysfunction that is the House Republican Caucus coming together to pass anything resembling the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate which, let’s be honest, would be a great step forward but is no prize. And, lest you think the shutdown is preventing families being ripped apart and deportations from moving forward, think again. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are considered “essential employees” and are still be around to enforce immigration law because the operations are “necessary for safety of life and protection of property.”

But—as I’ve said before and will say again—it doesn’t mean all is lost. Reports The Washington Post (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: One of the rally’s goals was to highlight the record number of deportations by the Obama administration, which have been estimated at more than 1,000 per day. President Obama has called immigration reform his top domestic priority in his second term, but he disappointed activists last month when he said he would not use executive authority to expand a deportation deferment program for young people, who are known as “Dreamers.”

President Obama does have the power to halt deportations until the Republicans take meaningful action for immigration reform. But he won’t do it without real pressure from the Democratic Party. Activists are more than impatient with the President for failing to make a real difference. so far, only one Maryland Congressperson has had the gumption to ask the President to stop separating families - Rep. John Delaney.

As we march towards the last sad breaths of this Congressional term, if inaction continues in the House of Representatives as expected, it will be long overdue for Maryland’s Democratic leaders to step up to the plate and let our president know that we expect him to do everything in his power to make lives better for immigrants and immigrant families.

#StoptheDeportations

Doug Gansler Disavows Surrogate's Anti-Immigrant Writings // Councilmember Nancy Navarro & Pundit Todd Eberly Weigh In

Yesterday Maryland Juice wrote about an unforced error from Attorney General Doug Gansler's gubernatorial campaign. During his campaign kickoff a few weeks ago, Gansler released a video highlighting testimonials from a few surrogates, including retired police offer Mike Mancuso. But we noted that Mancuso has written pieces in local newspapers scapegoating immigrants for budget problems during our recent recession. Below we provide a few updates to this story including a response from Gansler, as well as commentary from Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro and political pundit Todd Eberly:

JUICE #1: DOUG GANSLER DISAVOWS ANTI-IMMIGRANT VIEWS OF SURROGATE MIKE MANCUSO - Today, The Washington Post's John Wagner published a response from Attorney General Doug Gansler to news of his supporter's anti-immigrant writings (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: The gubernatorial campaign of Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) on Thursday disavowed views on immigration expressed in 2010 by a retired Montgomery County police officer who appeared in a recent Gansler campaign video....

The blog Maryland Juice reported Thursday that in 2010 Mancuso wrote a couple of opinion pieces in local papers, including The Washington Post, in which he accused Montgomery officials of not doing enough to address the county’s No. 1 budget problem: “an ever-increasing population of illegal immigrants that is rapidly depleting our tax dollars and services....”

“Mr. Mancuso’s later views on immigration certainly do not reflect the views of the attorney general and his campaign for governor,” [Gansler spokesman Bob] Wheelock said. “Indeed, Doug has been a national leader on immigration reform and worked tirelessly to ensure passage of the Dream Act here in Maryland....”

JUICE #2: MOCO COUNCILMEMBER NANCY NAVARRO RESPONDS TO MANCUSCO'S WRITINGS - Maryland Juice received the following response to our story on the controversy from Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro:

NANCY NAVARRO: I was deeply disturbed to read your article about gubernatorial candidate Doug Gansler putting an anti-immigrant former Montgomery County police officer front and center in his campaign kick-off video. Even though I support Anthony Brown for governor, I continue To think highly of Doug Gansler. In many conversations I've had with Doug over the years, he has always spoken proudly of the "welcoming community" we have in Montgomery County. Unfortunately, this campaign video sends  a completely different message to our proud immigrant community. 

JUICE #3: POLITICAL PUNDIT TODD EBERLY WEIGHS IN ON GANSLER CONTROVERSY - Todd Eberly, a political pundit in Maryland, pushed back on the relevance of this story in a series of Tweets today (samples below):

OOPS: Doug Gansler Campaign Video Highlights Unusual Endorser: Illegal Immigrants "Rapidly Depleting Tax Dollars"

Today a Maryland Juice source highlighted unusual support for Attorney General Doug Gansler's gubernatorial bid. You see, a few weeks ago Gansler released a kickoff video for his campaign, and among the testimonials was a statement of support from former Montgomery County police officer Mike Mancuso (see screenshot below):


But what's strange about Gansler's decision to highlight him in his campaign kickoff, is that Mancuso's extracurricular activities apparently include immigrant scapegoating in local newspapers. You can read excerpts from his musings below:

Washington Post (3/29/10): The Real Drag on Montgomery's Budget, By Mike Mancuso - "No one from Mr. Leggett on down has seriously addressed the No. 1 budget problem: an ever-increasing population of illegal immigrants that is rapidly depleting our tax dollars and services..... While these residents can no longer get a driver’s license, there are no restrictions on enrolling their children in schools, qualifying for in-county college tuition, obtaining medical, dental, mental health, prescription drug, housing, food and energy assistance, job opportunities and training, and more. Yes, there is a free lunch and a lot more in Montgomery.... Why should dedicated employees and taxpayers of Montgomery County suffer because of the county’s ineffective approach to illegal immigration?" 

Washington Examiner (4/6/10): MontCo's Immigration Policy is Real Budget Buster, By Mike Mancuso - "Leggett's and the council's policies have caused a huge influx of residents without 'legal presence' here.... When arrested for drunken driving or other serious offenses, many do not show up in court. Because of Leggett's refusal to fully cooperate with federal immigration agents, thousands of offenders become fugitives in our community. Police officers are limited in doing their best to protect the community. The problem is so bad that numerous illegal aliens are living in virtual shantytowns in Rock Creek Park, safe from police prosecution. The park has been trashed...."

Mancuso's views on immigration may be "informed" by his interactions with residents while on the job. A year before Mancuso began his letter-writing campaign, he made the following remarks about crime rates in The Gazette (excerpt below):

GAZETTE: To stem a surge in bench warrants issued for minor crimes and traffic citations, Montgomery County police are putting together a campaign that will ask Latinos to come forward to resolve their charges.

Police want to use $135,000 in federal stimulus money to launch a Spanish-language outreach campaign and to help cover overtime hours of police setting up "turn-in days" on evenings and weekends, said Lt. Mike Mancuso of the county's fugitive section....

As of the end of May, the number of active District Court warrants reached 14,465, Mancuso said. While that is not far above the norm, most of the increase is attributed to warrants issued on people with "Hispanic names," Mancuso said — in all, accounting for 46 percent.... Because many immigrants tend to move frequently or give the charging officer incorrect contact information, Mancuso said, making them difficult to find....

Police introduced the idea at a meeting of Police Chief J. Thomas Manger's Latino advisory committee last month. Some committee members worried that police were targeting the campaign on Latinos. They were also skeptical of how well the campaign would work because of the Latino community's fear of police because of immigration status....

After Gansler was embarassingly caught on candid camera claiming that Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was trying to win the Governor's race by campaigning on his race, this seems like another unforced error. Oy vey!

MD U.S. House Members Respond to Survey on Deportations // Only 1 Congressman Speaking Out To End It Now - Guess Who!

Below Maryland Juice writer Dan Furmansky presents the results of a fascinating poll he conducted of our state's Democratic members of the U.S. House: Elijah Cummings, John Delaney, Donna Edwards, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Chris Van Hollen. Furmansky previously called on Maryland's U.S. House Democrats to help end the Obama administration's record-setting number of immigrant deportations. Today, he presents a follow-up article with commentary from a range of Maryland's Democratic Congressman, but only one agreed to sign a letter to President Obama calling for a suspension of further deportations of those who would be eligible for deferred action under proposed immigration reform legislation. Guess who the one Maryland Democrat is to speak out clearly on this issue? The answer is within Dan Furmansky's article below. In the meantime, I'll remind you of some of the key facts Furmansky raised in his previous article on mass deportations:

• The United States is now deporting people at a faster rate than at any time in our modern history — an estimated 1,100 people per day. 

• According to data obtained by the news website Colorlines, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security deported nearly 205,000 parents of U.S. citizen children from July 1, 2010 to Sept. 31, 2012.

• A report from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute released earlier this year found that the United States spent more money on immigration enforcement — nearly $18 billion in the 2012 fiscal year — than on all of its other law enforcement agencies combined.  

• More than 410,000 undocumented workers were deported last year, an all-time high.

• The government spends about 15 times more on immigration enforcement than it did in the mid-1980s, adjusted for inflation, the report found. 

DAN FURMANSKY: A few weeks ago, I urged Maryland’s congressional delegation to call for a change in the terms of the immigration reform debate by asking the President — also known as the “Deporter in Chief” in some circles — to use his power to halt all deportations. There are a host of reasons why this is a good idea, and this is the right time to put such an idea into action. In case you missed it, here is more of the logic and background on the President’s zeal for deportations:

BACKGROUND: Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva and Rep. Yvette Clarke are circulating to their Congressional colleagues a sign-on letter to President Obama, urging him to suspend any further deportations and expand the successful deferred action program to all those who would be potential citizens under immigration reform.

I reached out to our state’s congressional offices about the letter and heard back from most of them. Unfortunately, despite repeated outreach, there was radio silence from Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, aka the man who still can’t decide if he is running for Governor, and a couple others. Also, I confess I got a little lazy and didn’t bother to reach out to Rep. Andy Harris’ office but — really — can you blame me?

Only one member of our Congressional delegation stated that at this point they would sign the letter to President Obama and urge a halt to all deportations now. And who, you ask, possesses the most willingness to publicly stand up against the repressive policies that are tearing apart immigrant families? Congressman John Delaney.

My fellow Juicer, aka Mr. Maryland Juice himself, was recently critical of Rep. Delaney for taking a right turn on some issues. So it’s particularly refreshing to see that Rep. Delaney is willing to step out on this important issue. Congressmen Delaney: Thank You.  Here’s the statement the Congressman’s office released when they notified us of intent to sign the letter calling for a halt to President Obama's mass deportation practices:

JOHN DELANEY: Last year, deportations of undocumented workers reached an all-time high.  I’m proud to join my colleagues in writing President Obama encouraging him to support common-sense use of selective enforcement of deportation to prioritize those who commit crimes and pose a public safety risk.  At the same time, I encourage the House of Representatives to follow the lead of the Senate and come together in a bipartisan manner to implement comprehensive immigration reform that provides a path to citizenship for law-abiding undocumented workers.

Unfortunately, for the time being, at least, our other Democratic members of Congress from Maryland are banking on movement from Republican House leadership, which I fear may be like Waiting for Godot.  Here are some statements from other Maryland Democrats (Note: We did not receive official statements from Rep. Elijah Cummings and Donna Edwards by press time):

Office of Congressman Hoyer: Mr. Hoyer strongly supports President Obama's decision to defer deportation action against DREAMers and remains hopeful that Congress will address our broken immigration system by taking a comprehensive approach that will secure our borders while establishing a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers, their families, and all law-abiding, undocumented individuals. He believes the House should take up comprehensive legislation, such as the bipartisan Senate bill, as soon as possible and is confident the Obama administration will fairly enforce existing law until Congress takes comprehensive action to fix our broken system.

Office of Congressman Sarbanes: Congressman Sarbanes looks forward to connecting with his colleagues on efforts to ensure that the United States implements a rational and humane deportation policy, particularly as we anticipate passage of comprehensive immigration reform. Congressman Sarbanes believes such reform must include a pathway to citizenship that keeps families together and in other key respects is fair and respectful of our nation's values and traditions.

Office of Congressman Van Hollen: The President’s deferred action for DREAMers has been a resounding success and Congressman Van Hollen remains committed to passing immigration reform to provide a pathway to citizenship for those DREAMers, their families, and other undocumented individuals.  His focus is on convincing House Republicans to stop obstructing the will of the people and permanently fix our broken immigration system. The Congressman is confident the Obama Administration will enforce the existing law in a fair and appropriate way.”

Unfortunately, the President is not enforcing existing law in a fair and appropriate way. Every day, families are being ripped apart. Children are being kept from their parents who are kept in detention, sometimes to the benefit of the private prison industry. And there are estimates that 30,000 people were deported in August alone. Here is just one example of a case that highlights the injustice:

MARYLAND CASE STUDY // A FATHER FACING DEPORTATION FOR A YOUTHFUL PRANK MANY YEARS AGO? - A Maryland of father of two — Manny Shoemaker — is being kept from his wife and two children (who are U.S. citizens) in a Worcester County Detention Center. Manny is the primary breadwinner for the family and covers them on his health insurance. This man has been in this country since he was 4-years-old, and has been a legal permanent resident since then. But Manny apparently committed a “crime of moral turpitude” as a youngster. He tried to steal a golf cart from a local golf course with a group of friends. His U.S. citizen friends got off with probation, while he served 6 months in jail. Now, years and years later, he is languishing in detention, which makes zero sense. You can learn more about Manny Shoemaker's case and join me in signing a petition on his behalf here.

Signing these petitions, incidentally, is crucially important when it comes to immigration cases like this. In fact, in many cases, community attention is the only thing that successfully defers deportation in these situations and keeps a parent with his or her children. Sadly, this case is hardly unique. It’s but one, sad example among millions.

In addition to the glaringly cruel deportation policy that taints this country every day — a policy that the President has the power to change — it is entirely unclear that movement is possible in the House on the bill passed by the Senate. According to the AP, voices opposed to immigration have been muted during this August recess, with some Republican Party activists claiming the focal point of energies have been trained on opposing the Affordable Care Act, not immigration reform. Pro-reform advocates claim they have turned some Republican members during this congressional recess. According to the AP, whether this adds up to the House taking up the Senate-passed bill is iffy at best (excerpt below):

ASSOCIATED PRESS: GOP House leaders have rejected that approach, vowing instead to proceed with bills addressing individual immigration issues, beginning with border security. And although by advocates' count more than 20 House Republicans have now declared their support for some kind of citizenship path, the majority of House Republicans remain opposed, creating a potentially unbridgeable divide between the House and the Senate. Congress also faces looming deadlines on the debt ceiling and spending bills to keep the government running. It all adds up to a tough environment for getting an immigration bill to Obama's desk. 

Nonetheless, pro-immigrant advocates are claiming success in their August recess efforts to pressure House Republicans to act on immigration in the fall. An unusual and deep-pocketed alliance of Catholics and evangelicals, labor unions, business groups and others have been targeting dozens of GOP members viewed as open to hearing them out, and say they'll have momentum on their side when Congress reconvenes. 

"The big story I think of the August recess is that we haven't seen what some had predicted, this major anti-immigrant movement where members of Congress would be heckled into inaction," Galen Carey, vice president of government relations at the National Association of Evangelicals, said on a media call this week to announce a $400,000, 14-state radio ad campaign in support of immigration reform. "We've seen very much that that has been a muted voice, but actually the pro-immigrant voice has been rather prominent at many of the town halls that we have observed."

Unfortunately, other signs aren’t sign promising. House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) told a radio host that he opposes a path to citizenship even for young documented people brought to the United States as children. And The Hill reports that even Rep. Luis Guitierrez is feeling despondent (excerpt below):

THE HILL: The veteran Democrat is known as one of the Capitol’s eternal optimists, but as he chats with reporters before a rally in a Republican district, he is struggling to chart a path to final passage for comprehensive immigration reform, the issue he has championed for two decades in the House. “I was hopeful we would be in a better place today,” [Rep. Luis] Gutierrez (D-Ill.) conceded.

I’m not saying we should give up on passing comprehensive immigration reform. Hardly. I am saying that while the Senate bill languishes (a Senate bill that already possesses laboriously long waiting periods for immigrants to obtain citizenship) and the Republicans continue to drag their feet on crafting their own likely-Draconian proposal, the President can take the same bold action he took one year ago via executive order and at the same time dramatically propel the conversation forward....

Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, often says it best:

PABLO ALVARADO: Anyone who thinks the President should suspend deportations as a "Plan B" is missing the point.  The President should make a suspension of deportations and an expansion of deferred action part of a "Plan A" precisely to help move a bill forward in Congress.  His decision to grant deferred action to childhood arrivals (DACA) showed that we can make incremental progress and galvanize momentum for an omnibus bill at the same time.  But it also begged the question:  Why isn't the President doing more?

In a quote being spread widely, GOP Senator Marco Rubio said that Obama could issue “an executive order as he did for the DREAM Act kids a year ago, where he basically legalizes 11 million people by the sign of a pen,” and doing so doesn’t require the intolerable compromises we’ve seen in Congress.  Rubio goes on to say, “We won’t get any E-Verify. We won’t get any border security. But he’ll legalize them.”

The precise action being discussed here makes Republicans very nervous. Let’s use that, shall we? And at the same time, we can put into practice the compassion we tout as Democrats committed to making life better for all families.

- Dan  Furmansky

P.S. You can read the full letter from Representatives Grijalva and Clarke to President Obama below:

Letter to Obama from Rep's Raul Grijalva & Yvette Clarke Calling for End to Mass Deportation

Federal Appeals Court Rules Frederick Sheriff Illegally Detained Latina Immigrant // Decision Restrains Deportation by Police

Tea Party Sheriff Chuck Jenkins at "Take Back America" Rally

Maryland Juice just received the following press release from CASA de Maryland, LatinoJustice and the law firm Nixon Peabody announcing that a federal appeals court has ruled that Frederick County, Maryland's Tea Party Sheriff Chuck Jenkins illegally detained a Latino immigrant.

The groundbreaking ruling has major implications for Sheriff Jenkins' racial profiling and mass deportation program and sets groundrules for law enforcement activities in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The press release below summarizes the ruling in the case and contains commentary from CASA de Maryland Executive Director Gustavo Torres:


PRESS RELEASE

Court Finds Frederick County, MD Sheriff
Chuck Jenkins Illegally Detained Latina Immigrant
In a groundbreaking decision, a federal appeals court found that that a state or local law enforcement officer’s suspicion or knowledge that an individual has committed a civil immigration violation without more information does not provide them with probable cause to suspect that the individual is engaged in criminal activity. The court said the officer may not detain or arrest the individual solely based upon a purported civil violation of federal immigration law.

Moreover, the subsequent issuance of an ICE detainer, after the illegal arrest and detention, “does not cleanse the unlawful seizure.” The decision came from the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Virginia, setting law for Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

The decision unequivocally holds that local law and state law enforcement cannot enforce civil immigration law and found that the deputies had no legal authority to arrest or even briefly detain the plaintiff on the basis of a suspected or known civil immigration status violation.

LatinoJustice PRLDEF, CASA de Maryland and the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP in November 2009 filed a lawsuit against the Frederick County (Maryland) Board of Commissioners, Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins and two deputy sheriffs for violating the civil rights of Roxana Orellana Santos who had illegally been arrested and detained by two Frederick County Deputy Sheriffs on October 7, 2008.

The complaint alleged that Santos was eating her lunch in a public area outside her workplace when two uniformed and armed deputy sheriffs approached and began questioning her. They requested that she produce identification. Upon prolonged questioning and ascertaining that she had an outstanding civil immigration removal warrant, the deputies arrested Santos and placed her in a local jail before she was transferred to the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). She was detained in a detention facility without any criminal charges for 46 days, away from her then two year old son and family before she was released.

In a 2012 decision, the U.S. District Court of Maryland dismissed Santos’ lawsuit finding that the deputy sheriffs’ initial questioning and subsequent arrest on the civil immigration warrant did not violate the Fourth Amendment, a determination that was overturned with today’s ruling.

“We are extremely pleased by this ruling explicitly holding that local law enforcement cannot detain or arrest Latinos whom they may suspect of questionable immigration status,” said Jose Perez, Deputy General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF. “It is apparent that the Frederick County deputies pre-textually stopped, questioned and detained Ms. Orellana Santos solely based upon her physical appearance at a time when the Fredrick County Sheriff was publicly trumpeting how many immigrants his office had arrested. This is the essence of racial profiling.”

Increased attempts by local or state law enforcement to engage in federal immigration law enforcement have been accompanied by a troubling rise in racial profiling across the country as local police who are often untrained and poorly supervised seek to discriminatorily enforce federal immigration law against those they may suspect of being without status which is often impossible to discern.

“Sheriff Jenkins declared war on Frederick County’s immigrant community and today’s decision validates the complaints of local residents who have been terrorized for simply driving to the store, taking their children to school, or, like Roxana, eating lunch,” said Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA de Maryland. “We hope that policing agencies across Maryland take this decision, and the liability that may flow from similar acts, very seriously.”

John Hayes, lead counsel on the case and a Litigation Partner at Nixon Peabody stated: “At stake in this case is a matter of acute public importance. Law enforcement practices that target a group based solely their appearance have no place in America. It takes great courage and commitment for Ms. Orellana Santos to come forward in the name of equal justice under law to stop this discriminatory treatment for everyone who lives or works in the County.”

The decision upheld dismissal of the claims against Sheriff Jenkins and the two deputies in their individual capacity determining that it was not clearly established law that local and state law enforcement officers could not detain or arrest an individual based on a civil immigration warrant at the time of the underlying October 2007 encounter. The U.S. Supreme Court in its June 2012 decision finding much of Arizona’s notorious anti-immigrant law SB1070 preempted by the U.S. Constitution noted that “detaining individuals solely to verify their immigration status would raise constitutional concerns.”

The decision reverses the District Court’s dismissal against the municipal defendants and remanded plaintiff’s official capacity claims against the County back to the District Court to determine whether the deputies’ unconstitutional actions are attributable to an official policy or custom of the county or the actions of a final county policy maker.

Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins upon being elected in Fall 2007 on a pro-immigrant enforcement platform entered into a 287(g) memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security permitting trained local deputies who undergo requisite training to engage in certain limited immigration enforcement. Neither of the two deputies who arrested Ms. Orellana Santos had received 287-g training and were thus not permitted to engage in any immigration enforcement. The lawsuit was filed on the heels of the Sheriffs’ announcement publicizing that he had detained his 500th immigrant.

###

Time for Maryland Democrats to Speak Out for End to Mass Deportations // U.S. Ejecting Residents At Fastest Rate Ever

Below Maryland Juice presents a new article from our writer Dan Furmansky regarding the record  setting mass deportations of residents under the Obama administration:

After the heaviest of lifts, the comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate is now languishing in the House of Representatives. It’s easy to see why, since House Republican leadership is already awful busy giving the middle finger to the Affordable Care Act and proposing a renewed food stamp program that cuts $40 billion from SNAP and effectively leaves millions of Americans hungry at night. With these noble endeavors at the forefront of the House’s agenda, and Iowa Congressman Republican Steve King telling the world that undocumented youth aren’t really hungry for an education, but drug smugglers with “calves the size of cantaloupes,” I think it’s safe to say that the “new and improved” Republican Party rashly promised to us in a series of post-November news headlines is also languishing.

In June the House sent a clear signal to the country with a mostly party-line vote of 224-201 to discard President Barack Obama's rule allowing deferred deportation for some young undocumented immigrants. Only six House Republicans, none in GOP leadership, voted against Steve ‘the Cantaloupe’ King’s amendment. Advocates will not be deterred, and with the August congressional recess upon us, the broad coalition pushing for immigration reform is urging the grassroots to lobby members of the House in their home districts.

Meanwhile, there is work that we here in Maryland can do with our own congressional delegation. We need our members of Congress to urge President Obama to halt deportations now.

As the clock ticks on achieving any meaningful and compassionate changes to our woefully broken immigration system, tens of thousands of families will be ripped apart because President Obama continues to deport more immigrants—aka future citizens—than any other president in our nation's history. Consider this:

• The United States is now deporting people at a faster rate than at any time in our modern history—an estimated 1,100 people per day. 

• More than 410,000 undocumented workers were deported last year, an all-time high.

• A report from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute released earlier this year found that the United States spends more money on immigration enforcement—nearly $18 billion in the 2012 fiscal year—than on its other law enforcement agencies combined. 

• The government spends about 15 times more on immigration enforcement than it did in the mid-1980s, adjusted for inflation, the report found. 

• According to data obtained by the news website Colorlines, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security deported nearly 205,000 parents of U.S. citizen children from July 1, 2010 to Sept. 31, 2012.

Given these numbers, what does this mean for immigrant communities right now, as House Republicans obstruct any progress and endorse the continued separation of parents and children?

During the August recess alone, an estimated 44,000 people will likely be expelled from the country.

Pres. Obama has the power to stop this. He already chose through his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) memorandum to allow for deferred deportations for young immigrations, aka DREAMers. But this only happened after tremendous, sustained pressure on the Administration to take action, and the failure of the passage of the DREAM Act in the U.S. Senate due to Republican obstructionism, since the DREAM Act had majority support, but lacked 60 votes to end debate.

Many people believe that halting all deportations could put key pressure on the House of Representatives to move.

Pablo Alvarado, of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, has strong words for President Obama in The Hill (excerpt below):

PABLO ALVARADO (VIA THE HILL): Luckily for the president and for those victimized by the current broken system, such cruelty is optional.  Building upon prosecutorial discretion and the deferred action for childhood arrivals program, the president has it in his executive authority to expand the relief he’s granted dream-eligible youth to their parents, neighbors, and the other potential citizens who are watching the Congressional debate closely.

In fact, if and when the president will stop prolonging the suffering of people in deportation proceedings and use his authority has become a repeated question any time he addresses Spanish language media. As limitations of the Senate bill are being reported and a few obstructionist legislators seek to imperil progress, hundreds of organizations have looked to the administration to take action and help break a possible logjam. His response to whether he will step in: “Probably not. I think that it is very important for us to recognize that the way to solve this problem has to be legislative.  I can do some things and have done some things that make a difference in the lives of people by determining how our enforcement should focus.”

Imagine how different the conversation would be and how much stronger reform's prospects would look if the president told obstructionist Republicans that deportations are suspended until a legalization bill is passed, as some of his own advisors have recommended.

To some people, the idea that the President might simply halt all deportations—not just those of DREAMers—may seem radical. No doubt it is aggressive, but is aggressive really such a bad idea when dealing with obstructionist Republicans? The President has worked ferociously over the years to prove he is “tough” on illegal immigration while wasting untold government resources, and he has absolutely zero to show for it from conservatives who clamor for more deportations and continue to parrot the words “border security” over and over as a talking point for their standing in the way of any pathway to citizenship.

Sadly, the President is unlikely to take bold action and expand the scope of his deferred deportations:
"I think it is important to remind everybody that, as I said I think previously, and I'm not a king," Obama told Univision's Maria Elena Salinas in January. "I am the head of the executive branch of government. I'm required to follow the law."

Yawn.

As with most issues, the President requires a strong push to exercise greater authority in this debate. He needs the same type of robust, concerted pressure that led to his decision to defer deportations for DREAMers.

Across the country, activists are asking lawmakers and local and state Democratic Parties to put pressure on the President to halt deportations until comprehensive reform passes. Resolutions are being drafted. The Maryland Democratic Party and Maryland’s congressional delegation can and should call for a change in the terms of the debate by asking the President to halt all deportations.

Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Rep. Yvette Clarke are circulating to their colleagues a sign-on letter to President Obama, urging him to suspend any further deportations and expand the successful deferred action program to all those who would be potential citizens under immigration reform. The letter to the President reads:

“As we have seen with deferred action for childhood arrivals, such relief brings with it the benefit of active participation in the debate by undocumented people themselves. When their stories are known and voices are heard, we have witnessed how the debate shifts. The fear and xenophobia that block progress only shrink in the display of their courage. But left unchecked, the threat of deportations will prevent so many from coming forward and contributing to the national conversation. Instead, the specter of deportation removes the human and grounding element in any political discussion—those individuals who are most directly impacted.”

If you agree that we need a bolder strategy to move immigration reform, then call up your member of Congress and ask them to sign on to Reps. Grijalva and Clarke’s letter to the President.

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov

Maryland Juice will be following this story and will keep you posted next month on which members of our Congressional delegation chose to sign on and take a stand for an end to deportations now.

- Dan Furmansky

ROLL CALLS: Maryland Approves Medical Marijuana, Licenses for Undocumented Residents, Gas Tax Hike & New Gun Laws

In the last few weeks, Maryland lawmakers approved a series of high-profile bills on a range of topics. Below Maryland Juice provides a combined House and Senate roll call on four key issues that were advanced by progressive advocates this session:

• HB1515:   Gas Tax Hike to Boost Transportation & Transit Funds
• HB1101:   Medical Marijuana Legalization
• SB715:     Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Residents
• SB281:     Assault Weapons Ban & Gun Registration Laws

DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSED THESE BILLS: Before the full roll call below, we highlight the Democratic "no" votes on each issue. It is worth noting that the medical marijuana bill was by far the least controversial:

• SENATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OPPONENTS: The medical marijuana bill passed the State Senate by a vote of 42 to 4. The 4 votes against the bill came from 2 Senate Republicans, joined by 2 Democrats:

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)

• HOUSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA OPPONENTS: The medical marijuana bill passed the House by a vote of 108 to 28. The 28 votes against the bill came from 21 Senate Republicans, joined by 7 Democrats:  

1. Del. Charles Barkley - (Montgomery)
2. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
3. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
4. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
5. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
6. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
7. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

• SENATE OPPONENTS OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS: The bill to allow drivers licenses for undocumented residents passed the Senate by a vote of 29 to 18. The 18 votes against the bill came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 6 Democrats:  

1. Sen. Jim Brochin - (Baltimore County)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
3. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
4. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
5. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
6. Sen. Norm Stone - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE OPPONENTS OF DRIVERS LICENSES FOR UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS: The bill to allow drivers licenses for undocumented residents passed the House by a vote of 82 to 55. The 55 votes against the bill came from all 43 House Republicans, joined by 12 Democrats:  

1. Del. John Bohanan - (St. Mary's)
2. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
3. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
5. Del. John Donoghue - (Washington)
6. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
7. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
8. Del. Joseph Minnick - (Baltimore County)
9. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
10. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
11. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
12. Del. C. T. Wilson - (Charles)

• SENATE GUN LAW OPPONENTS:  Laws creating new restrictions on the sale of firearms passed the State Senate by a vote of 28 to 19. The 19 votes against the gun laws came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 7 Democrats:

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
3. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
4. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
5. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
6. Sen. Mac Middleton - (Charles)
7. Sen. Norm Stone - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE GUN LAW OPPONENTS:  In the House, the vote for new gun regulations was 78 to 61. The 61 votes against the gun laws came from all 43 Senate Republicans, joined by 18 Democrats:

1. Del. Pamela Beidle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Del. John Bohanan - (St. Mary's)
3. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Rudolph Cane - (Wicomico)
5. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
6. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
7. Del. John Donoghue - (Washington)
8. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
9. Del. Sally Jameson - (Charles)
10. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
11. Del. James Malone - (Baltimore County)
12. Del. Peter Murphy - (Charles)
13. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
14. Del. David Rudolph - (Cecil)
15. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
16. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
17. Del. C.T. Wilson - (Charles)
18. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

• SENATE GAS TAX OPPONENTS: The transportation funding package passed the State Senate by a vote of 27 to 20. The 20 votes against the gas tax came from all 12 Senate Republicans, joined by 8 Democrats:  

1. Sen. John Astle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Sen. Jim Brochin - (Baltimore County)
3. Sen. Ed DeGrange - (Anne Arundel)
4. Sen. Roy Dyson - (St. Mary's)
5. Sen. Delores Kelley - (Baltimore County)
6. Sen. Katherine Klausmeier - (Baltimore County)
7. Sen. Jim Mathias - (Wicomico)
8. Sen. Norm Stone  - (Baltimore County)

• HOUSE GAS TAX OPPONENTS: In the House, the transportation funding vote was 76 to 63. The 63 votes against the gas tax came from 41 Senate Republicans, joined by 22 Democrats:

1. Del. Pamela Beidle - (Anne Arundel)
2. Del. Aisha Braveboy - (Prince George's)
3. Del. Eric Bromwell - (Baltimore County)
4. Del. Emmett Burns - (Baltimore County)
5. Del. Rudolph Cane - (Wicomico)
6. Del. Frank Conaway - (Baltimore)
7. Del. Norm Conway - (Wicomico)
8. Del. Steve DeBoy - (Baltimore County)
9. Del. Barbara Frush - (Prince George's)
10. Del. Mary-Dulany James - (Harford)
11. Del. Kevin Kelly - (Allegany)
12. Del. Stephen Lafferty - (Baltimore County)
13. Del. Jim Malone - (Baltimore County)
14. Del. Joseph Minnick - (Baltimore County)
15. Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam - (Baltimore County)
16. Del. John Olszewski - (Baltimore County)
17. Del. David Rudolph - (Cecil)
18. Del. Luiz Simmons - (Montgomery)
19. Del. Theodore Sophocleus - (Anne Arundel)
20. Del. Geraldine Valentino-Smith - (Prince George's)
21. Del. Michael Weir - (Baltimore County)
22. Del. John Wood - (St. Mary's)

HOW MARYLAND POLITICIANS VOTED ON FOUR KEY ISSUES:

BELOW: FULL HOUSE & SENATE ROLL CALLS

Democrats Ask Prosecutor to Investigate Campaign Finance Violations by Anti-Dream Act Group "Help Save Maryland"

Earlier this month, Maryland Juice posted an anti-Dream Act radio ad from the rightwing anti-immigrant group Help Save Maryland. But it turns out that the organization has not filed as a ballot issue committee with the State Board of Elections. The Maryland Democratic Party is now calling for a state prosecutor to investigate potential campaign finance violations and more (see below):

PRESS RELEASE

Anti-Maryland DREAM Act Organization, Help Save Maryland, 
Accused of Serious Campaign Finance Violations

ANNAPOLIS (October 15, 2012) - The Maryland Democratic Party submitted a formal letter today to Deputy State Prosecutor Thomas McDonough requesting an inquiry into serious campaign finance violations committed by Help Save Maryland, an organization working against the Maryland DREAM Act. Neither Help Save Maryland nor its Executive Director Brad Botwin has registered with the State Board of Elections as a ballot issue committee, making a recent radio advertisement run by Help Save Maryland in breach of the law.

Help Save Maryland sponsored and paid for radio advertisements that were broadcast on 101.9 LITE FM in Baltimore starting on October 1, 2012. The group has purchased time to run the advertisements twice a day Monday through Friday during the weeks of October 1 and October 15.

The ad uses emotionally charged and factually distorted language about “illegal aliens” clearly intended to gin up opposition to the Maryland DREAM Act as it faces ballot referendum. The ad urges voters to “learn the facts” about Question 4 by visiting www.helpsavemaryland.org where visitors are presented with a number of wildly inaccurate falsehoods masquerading as facts. According to the State Board of Elections Summary Guide, this type of ad requires the formation of a ballot committee first. In fact, no ballot issue committee has registered with the State Board to promote the defeat of Question 4.

“Help Save Maryland is breaking the law. Marylanders deserve to know who is funding a group that is peddling lies and grossly misrepresenting the facts to influence the outcome of a ballot measure of critical importance to our state,” said David Sloan, Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party. “I also find it ironic that for all of Help Save Maryland’s bluster about ‘the rule of law,’ they can’t follow simple election laws designed to inform the public about who is funding efforts to persuade voters on political issues.”

Sloan also mentioned that a formal request to the IRS for an investigation into Help Save Maryland’s violations of their 501(c)3 status is in the works.

 ###

LISTEN ONLINE: Anti-Immigrant Group Produces Radio Ad Opposing Dream Act // Help Save Maryland Spins Question 4

Help Save Maryland, one of the more active nativist groups in the Free State is up with a new radio ad attacking the Dream Act. Listen to their spot below:

POLL RESULTS: 60% of Likely Maryland Voters Support a "VOTE FOR" the Dream Act (Question 4)

Educating Maryland Kids, a statewide group supporting a "vote for" the Dream Act (Question 4), is now touting new poll results showing 60% of voters support their position. See the press release and polling memo below:

PRESS RELEASE

New Poll Finds Strong Statewide Support for Question 4, 

Maryland DREAM Act with 60% in Favor

The campaign to defend the Maryland DREAM Act, Educating Maryland Kids, today released a new poll that found significant majority support for Question 4, the ballot referendum on the Maryland DREAM Act.

Sixty percent of likely voters statewide polled affirmed their support for the Maryland DREAM Act, which would ensure that all students who graduated from Maryland high schools and whose families pay Maryland taxes can pay in-state tuition at Maryland colleges and universities, regardless of immigration status. Another 14% were undecided, with only 26% opposed to the law. Three-fifths of white voters and three-fourths of African Americans voters support Question 4.

VIDEO: Undocumented Students Go Public for MD's Dream Act

One side-effect of President Obama's recent decision to halt the deportation of undocumented youths, is that many students who previously lived double-lives are able to speak out about their plight. Even before Obama's decision, some students boldly stepped forward to defend themselves, such as those in the JSA Movement.

Today, Educating Maryland Kids released a new video with statements from a number of undocumented students who are stepping forward to urge Marylanders to support the Dream Act this November. The video message comes with a sign-up form for residents to pledge to "vote for" the Dream Act.

"I AM A DREAMER"

ACT NOW: PLEDGE TO "VOTE FOR" THE DREAM ACT IN NOVEMBER

Dream Act Updates: Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown Tells His Family Story // Montgomery College Video Defends Dream Act

Last week, Maryland Juice reported that the Board of Trustee's at Montgomery College (MoCo's public college system) endorsed a "Vote For" the Maryland Dream Act this November. Today also released a video explaining their support (Hat tip: MoCo Councilmember Navarro):





Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown today published an op. ed. in The Washington Post. In the lengthy piece, he explains his support for the Dream Act and discusses his own family's immigration history in the United States (excerpt below):

ANTHONY BROWN (Washington Post): Last month, President Obama announced that the United States will no longer deport law-abiding undocumented young people who were brought to this country before the age of 16, have lived here for five consecutive years and are pursuing higher education or military service. Instead, they will be eligible for temporary work permits, helping them to come out of the shadows of our society and participate more fully in our economy....

These are students who have lived in our communities and paid Maryland taxes. Yet the opponents who are bringing this issue to a referendum in November are taking a shortsighted view that ignores all that these hardworking young people can contribute to our state and nation....

My grandmother came to this country and served as a domestic worker, even for a time without proper documentation. She did this so that my father could become the first member of our family to go to college. He repaid that debt of gratitude by becoming a doctor and dedicating himself to serving those most in need in some of the poorest neighborhoods where I grew up....

Read the rest of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's piece at The Washington Post.

Montgomery College Board of Trustees Endorses Maryland Dream Act // READ RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF "VOTE FOR"

Casa de Maryland today announced that the Montgomery College Board of Trustees has passed a resolution supporting the Maryland Dream Act. Below you can read a full copy of the resolution and a letter explaining the Board's action. I've excerpted a few pertinent parts from the letter, which summarize the Dream Act provisions they endorse, as well as their rationale:

MONTGOMERY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: The Dream Act provides to undocumented students local in-state rates for tuition in Maryland community colleges (and four-year colleges with additional requirements), provided that the students can show attendance in a Maryland high school for at least three years, that their parents filed tax returns in Maryland during periods between attendance in high school and attendance at community college and that the students commit to legalizing status as soon as they are eligible. It is a confirmation and a slightly modified extension of a long observed policy of Montgomery College that granted all graduates of Montgomery County high schools local instate tuition rates....

JuiceBlender: Daily Kos Prefers O'Malley to Cuomo, Cuomo Hesitates on Dream Act, Bartlett Slams Obama on Immigration

Here's a random blend of political tidbits from recent news, starting with commentary from journalists and pundits comparing MD Governor Martin O'Malley with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo:

JUICE #1: DIFFERING RESPONSES FROM O'MALLEY & CUOMO TO OBAMA DREAM ACT ANNOUNCEMENT - Maryland Juice recently reported on President Barack Obama's major announcement that his administration would halt the deportation of young undocumented residents (aka Dreamers). This week, Politico's Maggie Haberman covered the differing responses to the new policy development from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo -- two rivals in the 2016 Democratic White House race.

Initially, Haberman wrote about O'Malley's support for Obama's actions, compared to Cuomo's silence. But days later, Cuomo is now praising Obama's immigration position. Notably, Gov. O'Malley had backed a Maryland version of the Dream Act which provides for in-state college tuition for all high school graduates, regardless of their immigration status. Gov. Cuomo apparently did not support the New York version of this legislation. See excerpts from the pair of articles below:

It's Official: Blaine Young Announces for 2014 Governor // MD Tea Party Fanatic Pushed English-Only Law, Frederick Sprawl

Drawing of Blaine Young from his website.

It's official -- Frederick County's attention-seeking Tea Partier, Blaine Young, has launched a bid for Maryland Governor in 2014. Mr. Young is the head of Frederick's Board of Commissioners, and Maryland Juice has previously written about some of his controversial actions.

He recently ensured that Frederick passed a useless law declaring English the official language of the County, and Frederick residents previously tried to launch a movement to recall him over his war on government employees. His hard turn to the right began after he was linked to an area Madame's prostitution scandal, in an incident that locals refer to as Blaine Young's "Black Book Scandal."

You can catch a television report of the announcement at Your4State.com, but The Frederick News-Post carried a print report (excerpt below):

FREDERICK NEWS-POST: Blaine Young says he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2014. In an announcement sent to media outlets today from his Yellow Cab email address, the Frederick County Commissioners president stated he has filed a statement of organization with the Maryland Board of Elections to create Blaine Young for Maryland as the first step in his gubernatorial bid....