Luminus Supports Maryland Data Privacy Act
Mr. Chairman, Vice Chair, and Members of the Committee,
My name is Tina Horn, and I am the Chief External Affairs Officer of the Luminus Network, Inc., a 44 year old immigration support nonprofit headquartered in Howard County, and a resident of Maryland Senate District 12. Thank you for the opportunity to testify in strong support of Senate Bill 977, the Maryland Data Privacy Act.
At Luminus, we work with immigrant communities in Maryland, and we have seen firsthand how fear of data misuse prevents individuals and families from engaging with essential services. Personal identifying information, including names, addresses, immigration status, biometric data, and employment details, should be protected, not used to expose Maryland residents to harm. Maryland state and county agencies collect vast amounts of personal data, which if then shared with federal entities—without the knowledge or consent of residents—would put individuals and families at risk.
The Risks of Intergovernmental Data Sharing
With the advancement of technologies and data mining, the vast and rapidly expanding intergovernmental marketplace of individual data must be protected.
State and local governments gather personal data to administer public programs, such as driver’s licenses, healthcare, and social services. However, when this information is shared with federal agencies through opaque agreements, Marylanders—particularly immigrants—are exposed to significant risks.
For example, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the National Directory of New Hires serve as repositories for personal data that is accessed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal entities. These programs were not designed for immigration enforcement, yet they have been co-opted for precisely that purpose. This deters immigrants from accessing critical services, such as public health programs and law enforcement assistance, out of fear that their information will be used against them.
Lack of Legislative Oversight
Unlike financial transactions or public benefits programs, intergovernmental data-sharing arrangements lack transparency and public accountability. Federal agencies frequently gain access to Marylanders’ personal information without explicit legislative approval, relying instead on administrative policies, memoranda of understanding, and informal agreements.
This loophole allows for the repurposing of data collected for one reason—such as driver’s license applications or housing assistance—into immigration enforcement mechanisms, without the knowledge of the Marylanders affected.
Erosion of Public Trust
Unchecked data-sharing does not only violate privacy; it erodes trust in state and local institutions. When my immigrant clients and neighbors fear that applying for a driver’s license or reporting a crime may lead to deportation, they are less likely to engage with public services, making our communities less safe and less connected.
Maryland should not be complicit in a system that forces state and local governments to act as extensions of federal immigration enforcement through data-sharing. Senate Bill 977 restores state autonomy by ensuring that Maryland’s data is used for its intended purpose—not to facilitate unjust detentions and deportations.
Why Senate Bill 977 Is Critical
Senate Bill 977 is a necessary step in protecting Marylanders’ data from misuse by federal agencies. By limiting the ability of state and local agencies to share personal information with immigration enforcement, this bill will:
- Protect Maryland residents from unauthorized surveillance and privacy violations;
- Ensure that state-collected data is used for its intended purpose, not repurposed for federal immigration enforcement; and
- Strengthen trust in Maryland’s government and public institutions.
Legislative intervention is crucial to protect Maryland residents’ privacy. At its core, this is a matter of civil rights, public trust, and state sovereignty. The Maryland General Assembly has the opportunity to affirm that our state stands for privacy, dignity, and fairness.