ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the formation of a new Immigrant Affairs Task Force, with the signing of Executive Order 2026-10.
Comprised of nearly 23 percent foreign born residents with nearly 120 languages spoken, Howard County thrives on its diversity. A vital part of our county, our immigrant community members contribute to our local and state economy by strengthening Howard County’s workforce, talent pipeline, and economic competitiveness. With the establishment of this Task Force and, ultimately, an Office of Immigrant Affairs, we aim to increase access to County services, including language access, health and social supports, and resource navigation support for our immigrant neighbors so they may live, thrive, and grow in our great county they call home.
The Task Force is being formed to analyze model Offices of Immigrant Affairs in local jurisdictions and in State Government and develop recommendations on a proposed structure, staffing, and placement for an Office of Immigrant Affairs within Howard County Government to enhance the County’s support of its immigrant community.
Now through November 2026, the Task Force will make policy and programmatic recommendations across the following five focus areas:
- Education and Outreach Opportunities – Recommend how an Office of Immigrant Affairs will coordinate culturally appropriate opportunities across government, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and faith institutions.
- Safety and Stability – Recommend strategies for an Office of Immigrant Affairs to increase community trust and public safety engagement, including but not limited to, consumer protection and fraud prevention, interaction with law enforcement, family stability supports, and legal navigation resources.
- Government, Health, Social Services, and Language Access – Recommend how an Office of Immigrant Affairs can address multilingual service delivery across agencies, determine gaps in navigation, address mental health and trauma needs, increase food and housing supports, increase digital access, and standardize translation and interpretation services.
- Workforce Development and Economic Mobility – Recommend on the coordination necessary to be provided by the Office of Immigrant Affairs to align County workforce programs with business services and hiring support, increase workforce training and career counseling for immigrants, determine unique models for apprenticeships, youth, and veteran programs, and work with state and federal partners on foreign credential recognition and alignment and navigation of work authorization pathways.
- Financial Empowerment and Consumer Protection – Recommend how the Office of Immigrant Affairs will increase access to safe banking and financial services, financial literacy and long-term planning, protection from predatory practices, and pathways to wealth-building.
The Task Force will be comprised of representatives from the following offices and entities:
- Department of County Administration
- Office of Human Rights and Equity
- Department of Community Resources and Services
- Howard County Department of Social Services
- Howard County Police Department
- Office of Consumer Protection
- Office of Workforce Development
- Howard Community College
- Howard County Economic Development Authority
- Howard County Public School System
- Columbia Community Care
- Luminus Network for New Americans
- La Alianza Latina Commission
- AAPI Commission
- Interfaith Advisory Commission
- A youth representative under the age of 20
- Howard County employers representing target industries (up to five)
The Task Force will present its recommendations to the County Executive by no later than November 2, 2026 and will dissolve by December 1, 2026.
Since taking office in December 2018, Ball’s administration has:
- Hosted numerous events to raise awareness about the rich heritage of Howard County’s immigrant population, including the Asian American & Pacific Islander Festival, Caribbean American Heritage Festival, Hispanic Heritage Festival, and Lunar New Year Celebration.
- Established a permanent La Alianza Latina Commission to continue the work of advancing policy and systemic change to uplift Latino families, businesses, and residents;
- Established a permanent Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission to advise the Howard County Executive on policy initiatives, and advocates for issues that impact the AAPI community;
- Signed into law The Liberty Act, which prevents County employees from asking about the immigration status of residents, discriminating based on immigration status, and requiring that certain information related to citizenship be kept confidential in Howard County; and
- Terminated the County’s Department of Corrections contract with United States Immigration Customs, and Enforcement (ICE) to house detainees in ICE custody at the Howard County Detention Center.