STATEMENT BY BRAD BOTWIN, DIRECTOR,
HELP SAVE MARYLAND.ORG
SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE
SB245 - PUBLIC SAFETY- IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS- PROHIBITION
JANUARY 22, 2026
MY NAME IS BRAD BOTWIN AND I’M THE DIRECTOR OF HELP SAVE MARYLAND.ORG, A STATE-WIDE, 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH EDUCATES MARYLAND CITIZENS (INCLUDING OUR LEGISLATORS) ON THE FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL COSTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
ALL MARYLAND LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY BLACK, LATINO AND LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, SHOULD BE FEARFUL OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION LIKE SB245. DRAFTED, YET AGAIN, WITHOUT THE INPUT OF CITIZENS GROUPS NOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHICH SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW & ORDER, LEGAL IMMIGRATION AND FRANKLY COMMON SENSE.
INSTEAD, THE VOCAL SUPPORTERS OF SB245 ON THIS COMMITTEE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF GROUPS LIKE CASA OF MARYLAND, ACLU, CAIR AND NUMEROUS RADICAL ORGANIZATIONS WHICH SUPPORT POLICIES LIKE OPEN BORDERS, SANCTUARY, AMNESTY, AND VOTING RIGHTS FOR THOSE WITH NO MORAL OR LEGAL RIGHT TO BE IN OUR STATE AND NATION.
TERMINATING ICE 287(G) COOPERATION PROGRAMS IN OUR STATE OVERLOOKS THE DAMAGE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAS CAUSED, AND WILL CONTINUE TO, CAUSE ALBEIT AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL WITHOUT FEDERAL COOPERATION.
BY ELIMINATING 287(G), AND INSTEAD HARBORING ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS, OUR LEGISLATORS ARE PREPARED TO UNLEASH EXPANDED FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE SOLVED INSTEAD BY STATE-WIDE COOPERATION WITH ICE TO SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY REMOVE THOSE WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS AND WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS. NOTE THAT IN 2025, OVER 3,000 CRIMINAL ALIENS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED BY ICE, WITH SELF DEPORTATION ADDING HUNDREDS MORE.
INSTEAD, BACKERS OF FLAWED BILL (SB245) NEGLECT THE DOWNSIDES OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION VS. LEGAL IMMIGRATION. THE MINIMAL ATTEMPTS BY ILLEGALS AT LEARNING OUR NATIVE ENGLISH, OUR CULTURE, AND OVERALL ASSIMILATION, THEIR LIMITED HEALTH AND BACKGROUND SCREENINGS, OVERCROWDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN-STATE COLLEGE TUITION TAKING SEATS FROM OUR YOUNG ADULTS, BANKRUPT HOSPITALS, HOUSING SHORTAGES, WELFARE FRAUD, WHILE SOCIAL SERVICES AND TAX DOLLARS ARE STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT.
WHAT ABOUT ALIEN CRIME, RAPE AND MURDER, GANG VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DRUGS, VOTER FRAUD, JOBS TAKEN AWAY FROM AMERICANS, INABILITY TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES FINANCIALLY YET WEALTH TRANSFERS TO HOME COUNTRIES VIA WESTERN UNION WHILE ON WELFAFE AND SNAP? LET’S ALSO NOT FORGET UNINSURED ALIEN DRIVERS ON OUR ALREADY CROWDED ROADS ADDING TO OUR AUTO INSURANCE COSTS.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT SB245 SHOULD BE STOPPED AS IT IS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED BILL PROMOTING LAWLESSNESS AND STATE SANCTUARY, INTRODUCED FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF MARYLAND’S LARGE AND GROWING ILLEGAL ALIEN POPULATION AND THEIR LOCAL ENABLERS.
EVEN MORE SHOCKING IS THAT CHAIRMAN SMITH, A NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER AND FORMER DHS EMPLOYEE, WOULD CONTINUE TO SPONSOR SB245. THIS IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF RIOTS AND CRIME AGAINST FEDERAL OFFICERS AND FACILITIES IN LA, CHICAGO, MINNEAPOLIS AND PORTLAND – ALL SANCTUARY ENVIRONMENTS – THE OBJECTIVE OF SB245! DOES SMITH WANT THE SAME VIOLENT OUTCOMES IN BALTIMORE, WHEATON, OCEAN CITY AND HYATTSVILLE?
287(G) PROGRAMS HAVE A PROVEN RECORD IN EIGHT MARYLAND COUNTIES. THE BEST STATE GOVERNMENT POLICY IS EITHER TO EXPAND ICE COOPERATION OR JUST STAY OUT OF THE WAY.
JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF MARYLAND CITIZENS, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SANCTUARY CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, IS JUST WRONG. AND COME FEBRUARY 1, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DECLARED A FEDERAL FINANCIAL CUTOFF TO ALL SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS. JUST WHAT DEBT RIDDEN MARYLAND NEEDS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I REQUEST THIS COMMITTEE TABLE SB245 AND INSTEAD WORK ACROSS THE AISLE TO PROMOTE MARYLAND’S ECONOMY AND EXPAND JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
UNCONTESTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND LEGISLATORS THAT ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN, IS THE PROBLEM IN MARYLAND, NOT SUCCESSFUL 287(G) PROGRAMS WITH FEDERAL ICE.
THANK YOU.
BRAD BOTWIN, DIRECTOR
HELP SAVE MARYLAND.ORG
PO BOX 5742 ROCKVILLE, MD 20855 [email protected] , 240-447-1884