In a significant move to protect immigrant communities, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order to establish a 12-month task force dedicated to safeguarding immigrant rights. This initiative aims to tackle fraud and exploitation that have increasingly targeted these communities, as reported by the governor’s office.

Addressing Exploitation and Abuse

The task force will bring together various state agencies, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Comptroller, to address issues such as wage theft, housing scams, and workplace abuse. These problems have been exacerbated by fears surrounding immigration enforcement, making immigrant communities particularly vulnerable.

Maryland Attorney General Brown emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Immigrant communities are particularly vulnerable to wage theft, housing scams, and workplace abuse in the current political climate. 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.”

Strengthening Resources and Services

With immigrants comprising approximately 17% of Maryland’s population and 22% of its labor force, the task force will focus on understanding the barriers these communities face in enforcing their rights. It will also work on strengthening educational and legal resources available to them.

The Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs will administer the task force, which aims to demonstrate the unity and strength of Maryland in standing against injustice. Governor Moore stated, “Our immigrant communities contribute to the greatness of Maryland. I have made it clear that we will not stand by while bad actors prey on immigrants in our communities.”

The full executive order detailing the creation and objectives of the Maryland Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force is available for public viewing.

Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.