Senator Pamela Beidle
202 James Senate Office Building
11 Bladen Street
Annapolis, MD 21401

March 18, 2021

RE: Constituent Support for the Trust Act (SB88/HB304) and the Dignity Not Detention Act (SB478/HB16)
 
Dear Senator Beidle,

We, over XX of your District 32 constituents, are asking you to support two critical bills: the Trust Act (SB88/HB304) and the Dignity Not Detention Act (SB478/HB16).

The Trust Act, which has come for a vote in the JPR committee, ends law enforcement’s partnership with ICE; requires the development of policies around ICE entry to sensitive locations like schools, courthouses, and hospitals; protects immigrants from coercion, and ultimately ends inquiries, transfers, notifications, and detentions to and for ICE. This bill will serve to strengthen trust between the police and local governments and immigrants, making everyone safer. community.

The Dignity Not Detention Act is on track to pass in the House; your support will be critical in the Senate. SB478 prohibits any new contracts or renewals of existing contracts with detention facilities operated by private corporations; ensures that the public is adequately informed about any plans for any new private detention facilities; and requires counties to terminate existing contracts for immigration detention by June 2021.

During the house and senate hearings for both bills, hundreds of people testified in favor.  Both bills have the support of the Latino Caucus, the Black Caucus, and the Asian American & Pacific-Islander Caucus, as well as faith leaders, educators, and many concerned citizens statewide.  

To date, you have not publicly supported either of these critical bills. As your constituents, we urge you to support both. Your vote is essential to make these bills veto-proof. And, we want our representative in Annapolis to share our values and to vote in favor of protecting the lives and livelihoods of immigrant families.

We urge you to vote for the Trust Act and Dignity Not Detention.  These two critical bills are a top priority for your constituents in Anne Arundel County.

Sincerely,