Gov. Moore Launches Immigrant Rights Protection Taskforce

MARYLAND – Governor Wes Moore has signed an executive order to create a 12-month statewide task force on immigrant rights protection.

The task force brings together State agencies in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Comptroller, and other state leaders to coordinate efforts to address the treatment of immigrant Marylanders. Governor Moore signed the order on Friday, citing recent reporting from immigrant communities of new schemes targeting them and exploiting fear surrounding immigration enforcement. 

“I have made it clear that we will not stand by while bad actors prey on immigrants in our communities,” said Governor Moore. “In forming this task force, we are demonstrating the unity and strength of our state when we join together against injustice.”

Through the first-of-its-kind task force, state agencies will collaborate to identify challenges facing immigrant Marylanders, particularly in the areas of legal services scams, workplace rights, housing, consumer, and civil rights, and to implement strategies to strengthen outreach, education, enforcement, and coordination. The task force, chaired by the Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, aligns with Governor Moore’s call to better address fraud and exploitation of immigrant Marylanders during his State of the State address earlier this year.  

“Immigrant communities are particularly vulnerable to wage theft, housing scams, and workplace abuse in the current political climate,” said Attorney General Anthony Brown. “This Task Force brings State government together to ensure immigrant Marylanders have access to the services they need, protection they deserve, and the rights they are owed.”

Maryland leaders also cited immigrants’ contribution to the state at Friday’s signing, as immigrants comprise approximately 17 percent of Maryland’s population and nearly 22 percent of the state’s labor force.