1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to immediately take action to prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from accessing our state's driver's license and vehicle registration data through the Nlets information-sharing network. On November 12, 2025, Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Adriano Espaillat, and 38 other members of Congress sent a letter to 19 Democratic governors highlighting a critical loophole in state data privacy protections. While many states have enacted laws restricting state agencies from sharing resident data with federal immigration enforcement, these restrictions often do not apply to state police agencies that connect to Nlets (now known as the International Justice & Public Safety Network). The Problem: Nlets is a non-profit organization facilitating data sharing among approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies across North America. Through this network, ICE currently has frictionless, self-service access to sensitive state DMV databases—circumventing state-level privacy protections that residents believe are in place. This loophole enables mass access to personal information of law-abiding residents, including: - Driver's license records - Vehicle registration data - Home addresses - Photographs Other states are already taking action. Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington have already blocked ICE's unfettered access through Nlets. Oregon is currently in the process of implementing similar protections. These states demonstrate that it is both feasible and necessary to close this loophole. I urge you to follow the leadership of Senator Wyden and the states that have already acted by: - Immediately reviewing how our state's connection to Nlets may be providing ICE with unrestricted access to resident data - Implementing technical and policy measures to block ICE's self-service access to state DMV databases through Nlets - Maintaining the ability to share data on a case-by-case basis for legitimate, serious criminal investigations when appropriate Our state's residents deserve to know that their personal information is protected and that state privacy laws are not being circumvented through technical loopholes. Taking action to close the Nlets loophole protects residents' privacy and maintains appropriate law enforcement cooperation when truly needed. I respectfully request your prompt action to protect our community's privacy and safety.