HB 579

Criminal Procedure - U Nonimmigrant Status Petitions and Immigration Enforcement at Sensitive Locations

Sponsor: Elizabeth Embry (District 43A)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Criminal Law - ProceduresStatus: Third Reading Passed (124-14) (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring federal law enforcement officers to notify certain individuals of federal immigration action at certain sensitive locations; altering the requirements for certification of a U Nonimmigrant Status Petition; altering the individuals eligible to request a certain official to certify victim helpfulness relating to certification of a U Nonimmigrant Status Petition; authorizing the disclosure of certain information under certain circumstances; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 12FavorableFWA 6Favorable with amendmentsINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Allyn, Rebecca	Gov's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, & Victim; Governor's Family Violence Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Martinez, Ashanti	MD Legislative Latino Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Zelaya, Michellelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rodriguez, Amanda	Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force/ TurnAround, Inc.	Oral
FAV	Orbe, Jr., Carlos	Maryland Latinos Unidos	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Emerson, Jessica	The Human Trafficking Prevention Project	Written (PDF)
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Embry, Delegate Embrylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Golombek, Daniel	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wambui, Maureen	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Westbrook, Viviana	Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Greene, Jonathan	MSBA Immigration Law Section Council	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Hoidra, Sharareh	Maryland State Bar Association Immigration Section	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Thronson, Veronica	NIWAP, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Yang, Edna	NIWAP, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Orloff, Leslye	National Immigrant Women's Advocacy Project (NIWAP Inc)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only