Sen. Lindsey Graham criticized Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Saturday, June 6, over a new executive order creating a task force to protect immigrant rights, calling it the latest example of sanctuary-style policies that he says endanger American lives.
The South Carolina Republican, who recently introduced the End Sanctuary Cities Act of 2026, said that actions such as Moore’s order limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities and turn states into magnets for criminals.
Graham Condemns Maryland Immigration Rights Task Force
“Sanctuary policies are magnets for murderers,” Graham said in a social media post that highlighted Maryland’s approach.
He pointed to the state’s reluctance to fully honor ICE detainers along with its major push to shield immigrants from federal enforcement as policies that support non-citizens over public safety.
Graham’s bill would make it a federal crime for state and local officials to ignore ICE detainers for people facing deportation, especially those with serious criminal records.
It aims to cut off certain federal funding for jurisdictions that obstruct immigration law enforcement and hold officials personally accountable if released individuals go on to commit violent crimes.
Why Graham Says Sanctuary Policies Endanger Public Safety
The senator has pushed this legislation for months while working with the Trump administration.
He argues that sanctuary practices, now in place across multiple states and cities, have led to thousands of ignored detainer requests nationwide.
Data from the recent years show tens of thousands of cases in which local authorities declined to hold individuals wanted by ICE.
In Maryland, Moore signed an executive order this week establishing a 12-month statewide task force to protect immigrant rights.
The order brings together state agencies, the attorney general’s office, and other officials to combat fraud, wage theft, housing scams, and exploitation targeting immigrant communities.
Moore described it as a way to protect all Marylanders while holding bad actors accountable.
Graham and other critics view the move as another layer of resistance to federal immigration enforcement, especially after Maryland allowed bills like the Community Trust Act to become law.
That measure limits how local police share information or assist with civil immigration matters. Moore has also signed legislation barring local officers from being deputized for federal immigration duties.
Graham’s office points to actual cases where illegals released despite ICE detainers later committed serious crimes.
His bill seeks to end what he calls a dangerous loophole by imposing penalties on officials who defy federal law.
Moore’s supporters say it would restore accountability and deter illegal immigration by removing safe havens.
Moore’s administration maintains that Maryland works with federal authorities on criminal matters but draws a line at turning local police into immigration agents.
The state has roughly 1.07 million foreign-born residents, about 17% of its population, many of whom work in key industries such as construction, agriculture, and services.
Graham’s legislation, S. 3805, was introduced earlier this year and has been placed on the Senate calendar. It updates previous versions after consultations with the White House.
The senator has said he wants a vote soon and believes most Americans oppose sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with ICE.
The debate comes amid ongoing national tension over immigration, with most Republicans arguing that sanctuary jurisdictions encourage more illegal crossings and burden public resources.
They cite crimes committed by individuals who should have been deported but were released instead.
Also Read: Judge Halts Trump SNAP Restrictions in Victory for Democratic States
Democrats, meanwhile, say such policies help build community trust with police and broad enforcement efforts hurt families and local economies without making communities safer.
Graham has said that officials who ignore detainers should face jail time if their actions cause harm.
His bill targets the roughly eight million illegal immigrants estimated to live in sanctuary areas, according to some analyses shared by his office.
In his post targeting Moore, Graham argued that creating special protections while limiting federal cooperation sends the wrong signal and invites trouble.
Moore has not directly responded to Graham’s latest comments, but his office has stated that the task force focuses on protecting vulnerable residents from scams and abuse, not on blocking legitimate law enforcement.
Moore and other Democratic governors prefer to set their own limits on how far local governments go in aiding civil immigration enforcement.
