BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Critics were quick to question the timing of Gov. Wes Moore’s new task force to recommend strategies for preventing scams targeting immigrants.
The executive order creates the Maryland Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force, a year-long effort aimed at protecting the immigrant community. Gov. Moore said immigrants make up 17% of Maryland’s population and nearly 22% of the state’s labor force.
Scams targeting immigrant communities are increasing, Gov. Moore indicated, as “bad actors” try to “take advantage of immigrants’ fear of immigration enforcement.”
“We are demonstrating the unity and strength of our state when we join together against injustice,” Moore said in a statement.
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The action drew criticism from Republican Del. Matt Morgan, chair of the state’s House Freedom Caucus, who called the task force “smoke and mirrors.”
“It’s political damage control for the governor not signing the Community Trust Act,” Morgan said.
Gov. Moore allowed the Community Trust Act to become law without his signature, citing implementation concerns with the language. The law further limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Del. Morgan said the administration should be focused on economic concerns.
“We want an administration in the governor’s office to focus on the middle class and even easing those issues,” Morgan said during an interview on FOX45 Morning News. “And what we’re getting is another bureaucratic program focusing on anything but them.”
Political analyst John Dedie also said he believes the timing is connected to Moore’s decision on the Community Trust Act. But Dedie also said scams impact many groups, not just immigrants, and that the task force could be more effective if it focused more broadly.
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“This could be a really good task force if they focused on a wide group of people getting scammed because as AI develops further and further, more scams are going to occur across the country, not just with immigrants, but a variety of groups,” Dedie said.
In response, a spokesperson for the governor’s office said, “Only the party of Donald Trump and Republicans would think that protecting people from fraud is bad,” adding, “This governor is focused on leaving no one behind.”
The task force is expected to produce an initial report by July 15 after conducting research and speaking with stakeholders. A final report is due by the end of May next year.
“I think also it’s a little bit about election year politics,” Dedie said. “And of course, the report comes out in 2027 and around May or June when it’ll be time for candidates to start running for president. And he can say, ‘hey, look at what I’ve done’.”
Gov. Moore has downplayed 2028 White House aspirations and maintains he’s focused on re-election in Maryland.
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