Candidates and Immigration — A Guide to the Maryland Primary

Jeanette E. Sherbondy • June 21, 2022


Few solutions have been proposed to the immigration issues the U.S. faces.

 

The 287(g) Program is the most important immigration issue in Congress at present. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): “Across the country right now, local and state police officers are being empowered to harass immigrant communities through a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program — known as 287(g). Under 287(g) agreements, local law enforcement agencies — primarily sheriffs — are enabled with authority that would normally be reserved for federal ICE agents. It gives them the ability to investigate a person's immigration status and hold people for transfer to ICE detention — and means that even the most minor of interactions with local law enforcement could lead to deportation and being split apart from family members.”

 

There are 142 state and local law enforcement agencies that participate in the 287(g) program, and racial profiling, poor jail conditions, and other civil rights violations are widespread among them. Maryland has three law enforcement agencies that are cooperating with the 287(g) program according to an ACLU survey.

 

Another “solution,” Title 42, a policy initiated under Trump, “unlawfully strips people of the right to seek asylum by expelling them without any due process, under the guise of public health,” says the ACLU. The CDC terminated the Title 42 program earlier this year because the policy is no longer necessary to protect public health. But anti-immigrant lawmakers are fighting to preserve this expulsion program.

 

 

Governor/Lieutenant Governor

 

Few candidates have made clear statements about their positions on immigration policy. Of the four Republican gubernatorial candidates, only Dan Cox has a stated position on immigration; none of the Democratic candidates for governor have information on this topic posted on their websites.

 

Dan Cox + Gordana Schifanelli — Republican

www.dancoxforgovernor.com

Cox supports ICE’s 287(g) program. He states that he “will support and empower our local Sheriffs, State Police and Federal partners to remove criminal illegal aliens from our communities.” Cox has also stated that he will “ensure the immediate ending of the catch and release of illegal foreign nationals into our streets and double the pay of police officers while providing state of the art world-class training with protection from frivolous lawsuits and public information act requests of private and family information.”

 

 

Congress 1st District

 

Andrew P. Harris — Republican — incumbent

www.andyharris.com

Harris responded to a question about Title 42 on Fox News on May 25 relating it to a covid issue and saying that he is an opponent of “illegal immigration.” He has also made the following statements:

  • “We should fully support enforcing existing immigration laws, securing our borders, and denying criminal, illegal immigrants safety in sanctuary states.”
  • “I also support Homeland Security procedures for refugees fleeing Syria and other war-torn countries, that properly screen for terrorists.”

 

Harris does not support human rights for safety in states that offer sanctuary for immigrants requesting asylum.

 

Harris also voted nay on the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, which passed the House with a vote of 228 in favor and 197 against.

 

R. David Harden — Democrat

www.hardenforcongress.com

Harden supports immigration reform. He stated, “The United States needs comprehensive immigration reform beginning with adequate and effective border controls, a pathway to citizenship for the small class of Dreamers, increased admittance of refugees particularly given the mass displacement in Ukraine, and a merit-based immigration system.”

 

Heather R. Mizeur — Democrat

www.heathermizeur.com

Mizeur stated, “I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes both a clear pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and a commitment to border security.”

 

 

Most candidates have been silent on this issue, but Cox and Harris are against any humanly considerate bills for immigrants while Harden and Mizeur recognize the rights of immigrants to respectful treatment and facilitation of their efforts to achieve U.S. citizenship, especially after living most of their lives in the United States.

 

 

Jeanette E. Sherbondy is a retired anthropology professor from Washington College and has lived here since 1986. In retirement she has been active with the Kent County Historical Society and Sumner Hall, one of the organizers of Legacy Day, and helped get highway /historical markers recognizing Henry Highland Garnet. She published an article on her ethnohistorical research of the free Black village, Morgnec.

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

Ocean City Restaurant Owners Who Backed Trump Now Struggle with Visa Crackdown

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Heavily dependent on international students working under the J-1 visa program, Ocean City’s seasonal restaurants face a new difficulty after federal policy changes under the Trump administration. Each summer, roughly 3,300 J-1 visa holders arrive in Ocean City to help fill more than 12,000 seasonal jobs, according to the Maryland Restaurant Association. Many of these restaurant workers handle everything from cooking to serving customers. The U.S. State Department identifies Ocean City as the nation’s top destination for summer work travel exchange visitors. This year, the program was paused and later reinstated with new restrictions and federal investigations, which disrupted hiring and complicated staffing for the 2025 season. Nearly 60% of Worcester County voters supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Now, however, restaurant owners who backed Trump are confronted with the consequences of his administration’s visa policies, which threaten the flow of international workers upon which they rely. The disruption has led to worker shortages, operational difficulties, and uncertainty about future seasons. Restaurants that depend on J-1 students to meet demand during peak tourist months are preparing for further complications as federal reviews of visa programs continue. Local economic leaders warn that without these workers, Ocean City’s seasonal businesses could struggle to stay afloat. For restaurant owners and community members who overwhelmingly supported Trump, the new reality has raised questions about the resort town’s current workforce model under tighter immigration policies.

Poverty in MD-01 Will Increase with GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill

By Jan Plotczyk • October 1, 2025
Poverty in Maryland’s First Congressional District will increase because of the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill— the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — that was narrowly passed in July. Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-MD01) voted to pass that wildly unpopular bill and to kick our neighbors off SNAP and Medicaid to give tax cuts to billionaires. That was a cruel choice. More of his constituents will be living in poverty because of the OBBBA’s cuts to programs that support people’s basic needs. Poverty Rates in Maryland’s First Congressional District The official poverty rate for MD-01 has hovered between 8.5% and 9.8% for the last seven years. (Poverty rates for congressional districts were not calculated for 2020 due to the pandemic.) In 2024, 72,800 of our neighbors were living in poverty.

Don’t be Fooled! OBBBA is Not a Tax Cut for Working Families!

By Jan Plotczyk • October 1, 2025
President Trump has recently realized — apparently — that his One Big Beautiful Bill Act is not universally beloved by the American people. Aside from GOP lawmakers, billionaires, and MAGA faithful, the measure has never enjoyed the support of anyone. Polling conducted up to the bill’s passage, and analyzed by G. Elliott Morris , showed that On average across pollsters and methods, 31% of Americans support the One Big Beautiful Bill, while 54% oppose it. That net rating of -23 is, to put it mildly, abysmal… [H]aving a majority against you with just a third in support is terrible! And the bill has not become any more popular since its passage. But instead of fixing the parts of the bill that average people detest — the cuts to social programs for families, the extended tax cuts for billionaires — Trump has decided to just rebrand the bill as something he thinks they’ll love. And having decided that a public relations fix is all that’s needed, the White House has told GOP legislators that the bill shall now be known as the Working Families Tax Cut Bill. What tax cuts for working Americans are in the bill? Tax credits. The bill includes modest increases in the Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Credit. The standard tax deduction. The bill increases the standard tax deduction for individuals by $750 and for couples by $1,500. The no-tax-on-tips provision. Trump touts this as a true working-class tax cut. But it does not benefit many because only 3% of workers earn tips, and one-third of those earn too little to pay federal taxes. The no-tax-on-overtime-pay provision. This sounds good, but the no-tax applies only to the “half” portion of time-and-a-half pay. If a worker earns $20/hour regular pay and $30/hour overtime pay, the first $20/hour of overtime pay is taxed; only the $10/hour of premium pay is not taxed. It is estimated that for the bottom 40% of workers by income, this will equate to a tax savings of $10/year. Those meager offerings cannot obscure the fact that the bill gives 45% of the tax cuts to the wealthy ; only 1% of the tax cuts go to the lowest fifth of wage earners. To pay for those tax cuts for the wealthy, the bill contains $1.4 trillion in benefits cuts that will affect lower income Americans: many millions will lose health insurance coverage, food assistance, and federal student financial aid. Any small tax benefit that accrues to lower income Americans from the OBBBA is more than offset by benefit losses and Trump’s new tariffs (a defacto sales tax). The Yale Budget Lab found that when one combines the effects of Trump’s tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, 90% of American families will end up worse off. Seventy per cent of households will face losses ranging from $780 to $2,570 each year. So, don’t be conned. Recognize Trump’s gaslighting for what it is, a desperate attempt to mislead and deceive the American people. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.

Wicomico County Councilman Josh Hasting launches bid for House of Delegates in District 38B

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Before a crowd at Burnish Brewing Company, Wicomico County Councilman Josh Hastings, a Democrat, launched his campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B, setting up what is expected to be one of the most competitive races in the state in 2026. The seat is held by GOP Del. Barry Glassman, who was appointed after former Del. Carl Anderton accepted a position in the Wes Moore administration. Although Glassman begins the campaign with more than $30,000 in campaign funds and will run as the incumbent, the district — with a +7 advantage for Democrats — is considered a top pickup opportunity for House Democrats in Annapolis. Having grown up on Maryland’s first certified organic poultry farm in Mardela Springs, Hastings has built a career at the intersection of agriculture, environmental sustainability, and land use. Before gaining elected office, he spent 15 years in state and local policy and nonprofit leadership positions, including as executive director of Forever Maryland, a statewide nonprofit focused on conserving farms, forests, parks, and critical habitats. Since joining the County Council, Hastings has established himself as a productive legislator, and is credited with: Converting Pirate’s Wharf into a public park. Securing $200 million in county budget commitments for Salisbury firefighters. Advancing a countywide water and sewer master plan. Ensuring consistent above-maintenance-of-effort funding for Wicomico public schools. Championing major upgrades to parks and recreation facilities. He has also worked to: Expand pickleball opportunities at Harmon Field Park. Secure a new middle and high school in Mardela Springs. Address invasive species management. Public safety and quality of life have been recurring themes in his tenure, with Hastings backing investments in first responders and cleaner, healthier communities. Colleagues often note his ability to foster civil, thoughtful debate on complex issues. Hastings is no stranger to Annapolis. Earlier in his career, he served as an aide to Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee Chair Joan Carter Conway, where he wrote and helped to pass legislation reduce concussions in youth sports. On the campaign trail, Hastings emphasizes a platform focused on opportunity, affordability, and quality of life on the Shore. His priorities include: Creating more well-paying jobs that build on the region’s strengths while opening doors in growing industries Strengthening public schools with smaller class sizes and stronger pathways from arts to trades to higher education Tackling the housing shortage with more options for residents of all ages and abilities He also pledges to lower the cost of living by advocating for fair wages and more affordable essentials, such as food, energy, and housing. Hastings emphasizes community health and safety as central to his vision, with a focus on increasing access to health care, broadband, transportation, and recreational spaces. His platform stresses the need to protect the Shore’s clean water and healthy land while supporting farmers and a resource-based economy. At the heart of his message is a call for fairness and opportunity, and a government that works for everyday people rather than the few. His announcement also came with personal news: Hastings and his wife Alyssa are expecting their first child in April. With deep local roots, a track record of legislative success, and a competitive district in play, Hastings’ campaign launch signals that Democrats view District 38B as a pivotal race in the 2026 election cycle.

Gov. Wes Moore and Housing Sec. Jacob Day Celebrate Smith Island’s New High-Speed Internet

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Housing and Community Development Sec. Jacob Day were on Smith Island Sept. 24 to mark completion of an infrastructure milestone, the island’s first connection to high-speed internet. Funded by state grants, the $2 million broadband project was completed two months ahead of schedule, and will provide reliable internet access to residents, businesses, and schools on the island, where less than full connectivity has been a long-standing problem. Moore is the first governor to visit Smith Island since 1999, underscoring the administration’s focus on reaching often-overlooked communities. Residents welcomed the infrastructure improvement, noting that high-speed internet can enhance education, healthcare access, small business growth, and overall quality of life. Moore, a Democrat, has made broadband access a central part of his infrastructure agenda, with similar projects underway in other rural parts of the state. For Smith Island, this connection represents a long-awaited lifeline to the wider world, and a signal that Maryland’s leaders are paying attention.

Wicomico Councilman James Winn’s Religious Remarks Spark Controversy at Sept. 16 Meeting

By CSES Staff • October 1, 2025
Wicomico County Councilman James Winn (R-At Large) drew criticism at the Sept. 16 council meeting because of his extended religious rant that included pulling out a Bible and declaring he would “pray for non-Christians” in the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting death. During the meeting’s public remarks portion, Winn shifted from county business to a sermon-like address. He held up a Bible, quoted passages, and suggested that residents who do not identify as Christians need his prayers and guidance. Winn tied his comments to the recent death of Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, framing it as a moment for Wicomico residents to recommit to Christian values. Several attendees called the outburst inappropriate for a public governmental meeting, noting that Winn blurred the line between his own religious faith and his role as an elected official. Critics argued the comments excluded non-Christian residents and showed a lack of respect for the county’s religious diversity. The council meeting continued after Winn’s remarks. Still, the episode has drawn sharp reactions on social media, with some residents calling the behavior “embarrassing” and “unbecoming of an elected leader.” Others are defending Winn, saying he was exercising his free speech and sharing a message of faith in a difficult moment. Council leadership did not formally intercede during the meeting. However, community members are suggesting that the county ought to adopt clear standards to prevent religious proselytizing during official sessions. The controversy arises as Wicomico County confronts pressing local issues, including land use debates and the fallout from its immigration enforcement partnership with ICE. For some residents, Winn’s comments were perceived as a distraction from the county's real work of governance.
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