Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed an amicus brief Thursday urging a federal court to temporarily block U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from making warrantless arrests in Maryland without the probable cause determinations required under federal law.
The brief was filed in Guzmán v. DHS, a class action lawsuit brought by Samuel Guzmán, three other plaintiffs and We Are CASA. The lawsuit alleges ICE has systematically arrested people without warrants and without determining that they are likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained, as required for warrantless immigration arrests under federal law.
Brown’s office said ICE has made nearly 7,000 warrantless arrests in Maryland since January 2025, including arrests of U.S. citizens, and described the weekly rate as nearly 500% higher than during the previous year. The state argues the alleged practices have also affected schools, businesses, healthcare access and trust in law enforcement.
“The law is clear about what ICE must establish before making a warrantless arrest, and Maryland families are entitled to that protection,” Brown said. “This brief urges the court to hold ICE to the law and put a stop to unlawful arrests in our State.”
