Seventeen Maryland sheriffs have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's Community Trust Act, arguing that the sanctuary law violates constitutional principles and restricts their ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The lawsuit was filed by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a group that advocates for reduced immigration levels. The sheriffs contend that the state law, which limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, handcuffs their operations and creates conflicts with federal immigration law.

The Community Trust Act, passed by the Maryland legislature, establishes policies designed to encourage immigrant communities to interact with local law enforcement without fear of immigration consequences. The law restricts when and how local authorities can share information with federal immigration agencies.

The sheriffs argue in their federal court filing that the state law creates an unconstitutional conflict between state and federal authority over immigration enforcement. They seek to have the law declared invalid and to restore what they describe as traditional cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies.

The case represents part of a broader national debate over sanctuary policies, with some local officials supporting limits on immigration enforcement cooperation while others argue such policies interfere with public safety and federal law enforcement priorities.