Republican Sheriff Issues Warning to Democrats Opposed to Mass Deportations

A Republican sheriff in Maryland has issued a warning to Democrats opposed to mass deportations, saying that the country needs bipartisan cooperation for it to be carried out.

Chuck Jenkins, a Republican sheriff of Maryland's Frederick County, told Newsweek that "resistance and pushback from local and state authorities will only make the effort more difficult and detrimental to American citizens and immigrant communities."

Why It Matters

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to marshal federal and state authorities to conduct large-scale mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Democrats and Republicans are at odds over Trump's immigration policies, including those in Maryland.

The state's Democratic Governor Wes Moore told Newsweek that he has an "obligation" to protect the state's immigrant communities amid Trump's looming threat of mass deportations.

What To Know

Mass deportations were a core component of the Republican policy agenda during the 2024 elections and the GOP has said it is set to crack down on illegal immigration under the incoming administration.

Trump has said that the focus of deportation will be on individuals who have committed additional crimes, though he has also mentioned figures as high as 11 million people.

There is an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants who reside in the United States, per the Pew Research Center.

Meanwhile, most Maryland residents support mandating local officials to collaborate with federal authorities in arresting and deporting noncitizens who have committed crimes within the state, according to new poll data.

According to a poll conducted by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media, 76 percent of respondents support requiring local governments to collaborate with federal efforts.

The survey included 811 registered voters who indicated they are likely to vote in the next election.

The survey was conducted between December 27 and January 4; the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The American Immigration Council estimates that implementing a mass removal policy could lead to a significant one-time cost of $315 billion for the United States. Moreover, deporting 1 million individuals each year could result in annual expenses of up to $88 billion.

What People Are Saying

Jenkins told Newsweek in a statement over email: "For this deportation effort to be successful, it will require the support and assistance of law enforcement across the entire country. Resistance and pushback from local and state authorities will only make the effort more difficult and detrimental to American citizens and immigrant communities. I urge every sheriff and police chief across the country to look at what is best for public safety and their communities and to assist ICE in any way possible within their legal authority. If they are honest with themselves, they know this is a national security and public safety concern.

"Deportation will address and tackle crime, particularly gang crime and violent crime, by targeting known criminals in the United States illegally. This is proactively preventing crimes against Americans in its most basic form.

"President Trump and Mr. Homan have been clear that targets of the mass deportation effort will be those illegal aliens or non-citizens identified as having existing warrants of deportation, transnational criminal gang members, criminals currently housed in jails, non-citizens with criminal histories and pending charges, and public safety threats.

Governor Wes Moore told Newsweek in a statement: "I come from a family of immigrants. I feel deeply connected to the immigrant story and am grateful for the contributions both culturally and economically of our immigrant communities, in Maryland and across the country.

"Our immigration system is broken and Congress must fix it.

"Federal leaders need to set aside politics and work to ensure that our border is secure and that we have a fair and humane immigration system. There is currently a lot of speculation going around about how the new federal administration plans to address immigration policy.

"As Governor, I have an obligation to protect Marylanders, including members of our immigrant communities. I take that obligation seriously and will wait to see what actions the new administration takes on immigration policy.

"We have issued clear guidance on the four values driving our work during this transition from one administration to the next: We will deliver for Marylanders, we will defend our constitutional rights, we will grow our economy, and we will restore faith in our public servants, our institutions, and our democracy. And as policy evolves, we will weigh our actions against these values."

Trump-Vance transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt has repeatedly told Newsweek: "President Trump will enlist every federal power and coordinate with state authorities to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history while simultaneously lowering costs for families."

What Happens Next

Trump is set to return to office January 20 and is expected to sign a series of executive orders related to border security, immigration enforcement and mass deportations on 'Day 1' of his presidency.