Case: United States v. State of Maryland
1:26-cv-02719 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Filed Date: July 9, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
In this case, the United States challenged a Maryland law barring state correctional officers from cooperating with federal immigration authorities without a court order. On July 9, 2026, the United States, represented by the Department of Justice, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against the State of Maryland, challenging the State’s Community Trust Act (Act), Senate Bill 791. The Act barred local correctional facilities from asking about a person’s immigration status, from holding or transferring a person at the request of federal immigration authorities absent a judicial warrant, and from notifying authorities that a person was in custody; it also generally barred state law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration authorities absent a court order.
The federal government alleged that, under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the Act was expressly preempted and conflict preempted by federal law, including by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The federal government further alleged that by requiring judicial warrants where federal law authorizes civil administrative warrants and by singling out federal immigration authorities by name, the Act unlawfully regulated and discriminated against the federal government in violation of intergovernmental immunity. It sought declaratory relief to invalidate the Act, a permanent injunction to prevent enforcement of the Act and any similar future provision, and attorneys’ fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Matthew J. Maddox.
The State of Maryland filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim on July 31, 2026.
As of October 30, 2026, this case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Cristina Gonzalez (10/30/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73597080/parties/united-states-v-state-of-maryland/
Majmundar, Pooja (Maryland)
Story, Jackson M. (Maryland)
Williamson, Virginia Anne (Maryland)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73597080/united-states-v-state-of-maryland/
Last updated Nov. 4, 2026, 3:22 a.m.
Docket for: United States v. State of Maryland
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 9, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
State of Maryland
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of Maryland 1:26-cv-02719
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Immigration/Border:
Undocumented immigrants - state and local regulation
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:
Case Summary of United States v. State of Maryland, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48359/ (last updated 10/30/2026).