Maryland vows to challenge federal immigration orders targeting violent criminals

BALTIMORE — Maryland officials pledged to defend the civil rights of all residents following recent executive orders from the Trump administration targeting violent undocumented immigrants, including rapists and human traffickers, for deportation.

In a statement issued on Monday, Cleveland L. Horton II, executive director of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR), reaffirmed the state’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Horton expressed concern over the impact of the federal directives, describing them as sources of uncertainty and fear for vulnerable communities.

“Recent federal executive actions have left many feeling vulnerable, threatened, and uncertain about the future of their rights,” Horton said. “To those individuals, I want to make one thing abundantly clear — MCCR stands with you.”

The MCCR, which is tasked with promoting and enforcing civil rights laws statewide, emphasized that Maryland’s legal protections remain intact, regardless of changes at the federal level. Horton underscored the commission’s readiness to confront any efforts that may erode civil rights or reverse progress made toward equality.

Horton encouraged Maryland residents to join the fight through education, advocacy, and enforcement, pledging that MCCR would remain a “powerful force for good” in preserving Maryland’s status as a welcoming and just state.

The statement comes as states and local jurisdictions across the country grapple with the implications of stricter immigration enforcement policies.

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