Victory for Immigrant Protections: MoCo Values Act

AIM leaders at the hearing for the Values Act on March 2.

We celebrate the passage of the Montgomery County Values Act this week!

The County Values Act (Bill 3-26)will strengthen protections at all County facilities by requiring a valid judicial warrant and legal review before ICE can enter non-public areas, including parking lots and garages.

While ICE does not always follow laws, this law would direct County staff to make it as difficult as possible for ICE to access and operate on County property.

AIM clergy leader Rev. Michael Vanacore was quoted in the County Council’s press release:

"This fall, AIM listened to over 1,800 people across the County, and immigrants’ rights and protections were the number one issue on our community members’ minds, for both our immigrant and non-immigrant members.

My tradition tells me that in Christ 'there is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female,' but that we are all heirs to the promise given to Abraham (Galatians 3:28-9).

The Values Act is an important step in the fight to extend the promise of safety and security to everyone regardless of immigration status, whenever they access our public facilities. I am grateful to our County leadership for passing this bill and I pray that they will continue to increase in faith and courage in this fight."

Congratulations and thank you to all the AIM leaders who attended and spoke at the Council hearing in support of the Values Act, and those who emailed their Councilmembers—great work!