Immigration Update: Oct. 14th, 2025
- Ashley Egan
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
Thank you for your support. Our mission is to influence the makers of public policy in MD to ensure that our immigrant neighbors are supported, protected and afforded the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Support takes the form of providing access to affordable health care, providing a safe environment when someone is reporting a crime or is a victim of a crime, or ensuring safe places such as schools or hospitals.
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Every year, when the MD General Assembly convenes, our team begins organized efforts with our allies, such as CASA and the ACLU, to advocate for the enactment of bills that preserve the rights of our law-abiding immigrant neighbors who contribute millions of dollars to the Maryland economy.
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To Learn More:
Join My Immigration Mailing List by emailing Jim Caldiero at immigration@uulmmd.org
Visit our immigration issues page at https://www.uulmmd.org/immigration
Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/24502882922712473
And for additional advocacy tools, visit my website at:
Mark your calendars for January 31, 2026 at the UU Congregation of Annapolis for our UULM-MD Annual Legislative Kickoff Meeting.
End the Contract with Avelo Airlines
Avelo Airlines is the only passenger airline in the country that works with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In April, the company announced a $150 million contract to fly deportation flights, which Avelo CEO Andrew Levy has explicitly said they are doing solely to increase their profits.
So far, there has been only one deportation flight by Avelo out of BWI. However, their continued involvement in deportation flights violates the respect for equity, justice, and compassion for humanity that our faith compels us to work toward.
The contract may be voided with 30 days notice and I urge you to take action now by writing the Acting Transportation Secretary and the Governor and ask them to end the inhumane and constitutionally questionable practices against our immigrant neighbors who are hardworking contributors of millions of dollars to Maryland's economy.
While we know that if Maryland were to end the contract with Avelo, it may not end their contract with ICE. However, the airline does fly four commercial flights weekly out of BWI. So, ending the contract would place financial stress on the company. This is the nationwide objective—to hurt Avelo in the pocketbook. Similar actions are being taken in other states, e.g. New York and Connecticut. Eugene, Oregon has already ended their contract, and their last flight out of Oregon is scheduled for December 1st.
You can read more here: Avelo Airlines is Leaving Eugene, OR.Â
Please use the button below to send your e-mail to the Acting Secretary of Transportation, and use this link to contact Governor Wes Moore's Office: Contact the Governor.
October 25 Rally in Annapolis to Ban Avelo Airlines
On October 25th, CASA's Immigration Coalition is organizing a statewide rally and march in Annapolis to ask Maryland's Governor, Wes Moore, to end the contract with Avelo Airlines.
Since last month, CASA has gathered nearly 10,000 names on a petition demanding Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Aviation Administration take action to remove ICE-contractor Avelo Airlines from BWI Airport. As part of the the Rally, we will present the petition to Governor Moore, but you can sign the petition here.
Rally Information:
October 25,
2:00-4:00 PM,
Annapolis, MD
Baltimore RSVP and Carpool: Baltimore RSVP for Rally Against Avelo Airlines
Don't Delay Implementing the Access to Care Act
Last week, UULM-MD joined CASA, as well as 100 other faith organizations and community groups to ask the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board (MHBE) not to delay implementing the Access to Care Act, which was enacted in 2024. This bill would open up the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to all Marylanders regardless of immigration status, but the board is currently proposing to delay implementation of the Access to Care Act from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028.
Unfortunately, this delay would also converge with the expiration of enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which could be catastrophic for our state. "According to data from the Maryland Insurance Administration and federal projections, approximately 20,000 legally present immigrants with incomes under 100% of the Federal Poverty Level will lose all premium tax credit eligibility. These individuals, who have been able to access coverage through the marketplace despite their low incomes due to a specific provision in the Affordable Care Act, will face a coverage cliff with absolutely no safety net."
In my 2024 Testimony, I wrote, "Our faith calls us to promote and affirm justice, equity and compassion in human relations. Surely providing access to health care for our vulnerable neighbors is the moral, compassionate, right, smart, and safe thing to do for Maryland."
From the letter:
"Maryland has led the nation in healthcare innovation—creating a model health exchange, expanding Medicaid early, and investing in health equity. The Access to Care Act represents the next step in this tradition. While we acknowledge MHBE’s technical challenges, they cannot justify two years of additional suffering for 112,400 Maryland residents."
The next MHBE meeting is October 20th, Learn More Here: https://www.marylandhbe.com/board/
Read the full letter here: https://wearecasa.org/organizational-letter-access-care-act-delay-maryland/
Thank you,
Jim Caldiero,
Lead Advocate for Immigration
