ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to keep people who have worked in federal immigration enforcement since October 2025 out of certain county jobs, according to the council.
The hiring measure, Expedited Bill 29-26, is called the Community Trust in County Employees Act. It covers recent employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and others assigned to immigration enforcement work since October 2025. The ban reaches only county jobs that serve the public directly or carry decision-making power over the distribution of resources.
Councilmember Kristin Mink of District 5 led both bills. Councilmember Will Jawando, at large, co-sponsored the hiring bill.
“Our first responders, our food and healthcare partners, even our libraries and recreation centers, cannot fulfill their missions and responsibilities to the public without earning and maintaining the trust of the community.”
A second measure, Expedited Bill 38-26, updates the county’s fair housing laws. It bars discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in the sale or rental of housing. It also adds detention or deportation in immigration proceedings to the grounds on which a residential lease can be ended early.
Bill 38-26 was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Kate Stewart, Jawando, Shebra Evans, Dawn Luedtke and Laurie-Anne Sayles.
The council’s move drew a sharp reply from the federal government. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told NBC Washington that the council was “falsely casting federal law enforcement as villains while ICE officers are being targeted, threatened, and doxxed simply for doing their jobs.”
Both bills now go to County Executive Marc Elrich for his signature. The council release does not give a signing date.