Full Analysis Summary
Maryland 287(g) ban
On Feb. 17, 2026, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed SB 245/HB 444, a law that bans state and local jurisdictions from deputizing officers to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement under ICE’s 287(g) program.
The Office of Governor Wes Moore states the law is "effective immediately" and says "Any existing 287(g) agreements must be terminated at once."
Local outlet WMDT likewise reports the measure "takes effect immediately."
CBS News reports the bills as emergency measures that "require[s] all existing agreements to end by July 2026," creating a timing distinction across sources about when extant pacts must conclude.
The law, as described by the Office, preserves routine cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations and joint task forces unrelated to civil immigration enforcement.
Coverage Differences
Timing/Implementation
Office of Governor Wes Moore (Other) and WMDT (Other) report the law is "effective immediately" and say existing agreements "must be terminated at once" or that the measure "takes effect immediately." In contrast, CBS News (Western Mainstream) reports that the law "requires all existing agreements to end by July 2026," introducing a deadline rather than immediate termination. These are reporting differences in how quickly existing 287(g) agreements must end, not direct quotes of conflicting statements by Gov. Moore; the Office is the official source claiming immediate effect, WMDT repeats immediate effect, while CBS frames it with a July deadline.
Gov. Moore on policing
Gov. Moore framed the legislation as protecting constitutional policing and community trust.
The Office reports Moore said the move 'protects Constitutional policing and community trust.'
WMDT quotes him similarly and adds that he 'criticized what he described as large recent increases in ICE funding.'
CBS News quotes Moore saying Maryland will not allow 'untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents' to deputize local officers.
CBS News also notes Moore called the state a 'community of immigrants,' emphasizing accountability and immigrant-protection language in national coverage.
Coverage Differences
Emphasis/Quote
The Office of Governor Wes Moore (Other) and WMDT (Other) emphasize constitutional policing and community trust with near-identical language (the Office: "protects Constitutional policing and community trust"; WMDT: "protects constitutional policing and community trust"). WMDT additionally reports Moore "criticized ... large recent increases in ICE funding," a detail not present in the Office release. CBS News (Western Mainstream) highlights a stronger, more pointed quote from Moore—"untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents"—framing the law in terms of accountability and immigrant community identity. Each source is reporting Moore's remarks or paraphrasing them; the additional detail about ICE funding appears only in WMDT's coverage.
Federal law-enforcement cooperation
The law contains carve-outs and preserves ordinary law-enforcement cooperation on non-civil immigration matters.
The Office states the law "preserves routine cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations and joint task forces unrelated to civil immigration enforcement."
WMDT reports it "allow[s] cooperation with federal partners on violent crime."
CBS frames the bills as banning 287(g) partnerships and barring state agencies and employees from entering new pacts, while not disputing the continued cooperation on violent crime described by the other sources.
Coverage Differences
Scope/Narrowing
Office of Governor Wes Moore (Other) explicitly describes the law as preserving "routine cooperation with federal authorities on criminal investigations and joint task forces unrelated to civil immigration enforcement." WMDT (Other) similarly notes the law "allow[s] cooperation with federal partners on violent crime." CBS News (Western Mainstream) focuses on the ban and the bar on entering new pacts but does not include the Office's specific wording about "joint task forces unrelated to civil immigration enforcement" in the provided snippet; it therefore emphasizes the ban while not detailing the carve-outs highlighted by the Office and WMDT.
Local and statewide coverage
Local reaction is noted in the reporting.
WMDT reports that Wicomico County — described as "the only Maryland county that recently entered a 287(g) agreement" — announced it "will withdraw its agreement in response to the new state law."
The Office release does not include this local response in the provided snippet.
CBS's excerpt focuses on statewide policy and Moore's remarks without mentioning Wicomico, and that difference shows WMDT providing a local consequence not present in the Office or CBS excerpts.
Coverage Differences
Local Reaction/Omission
WMDT (Other) uniquely reports a local reaction: "Wicomico County — the only Maryland county that recently entered a 287(g) agreement — announced it will withdraw its agreement in response to the new state law." The Office of Governor Wes Moore (.gov) release does not include this local withdrawal detail in the provided snippet, and CBS News (Western Mainstream) focuses on the statewide law and Moore's comments without reporting the Wicomico response in the excerpt. This is a case of unique local coverage versus state and national summaries.
Framing Across Three Sources
Across the three sources the tone and framing differ.
The Office of Governor Wes Moore uses formal, official language focused on "Constitutional policing and community trust" and procedural details.
WMDT presents a state-level summary, local reaction, and a critique by Moore about ICE funding.
CBS News frames the measures as emergency bills, emphasizes a deadline (July 2026) for existing pacts to end, and quotes Moore calling out "untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents," a sharper rhetorical framing.
These differences reflect the sources' roles — official release, local reporting, and national news framing — and lead to variations in emphasis on timing, local impact, funding criticism, and accountability language.
Coverage Differences
Tone/Narrative Framing
The Office (Other) frames the action as protecting "Constitutional policing and community trust" and emphasizes legal and procedural assurances; WMDT (Other) adds local consequence and a specific criticism by Moore about ICE funding increases; CBS News (Western Mainstream) frames the story as emergency legislation, includes a deadline for existing pacts to end by July 2026, and highlights Moore's stronger quote about "untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents." Each source reports overlapping facts but chooses different emphases consistent with their type and audience.