SUN: Gov. Moore orders immigrant task force; critics question impact

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Gov. Wes Moore on Friday created a task force that studies scams targeting immigrants and recommends strategies to prevent them. But analysts say the governor’s actions don’t do much beyond symbolically supporting immigrant rights.

The governor signed an executive order creating the 12-month-long Maryland Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force, claiming there’s a rise in schemes preying on immigrants’ fears of being detained by law enforcement. A Moore administration official said the task force’s work will be paid for by the Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, which will put forward $75,000.

This is the first action the governor has taken on immigration policy without the General Assembly’s approval. The Community Trust Act became law last week, prohibiting local law enforcement from inquiring about a detainee’s citizenship or immigration status, among other things. A lawmaker-approved ban on local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE also took effect in February.

Moore’s order comes amid an increase in bad actors preying on immigrants seeking legal advice in light of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration. In various cases, some Maryland residents have been duped out of $10,000.

Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.