Maryland Lt Governor flags immigrant fears, affordability crisis ahead of US midterms

Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller has raised concerns over growing fear among immigrant communities in the United States ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, saying families are worried about their children’s safety and possible attacks on temples, gurdwaras and mosques. Miller said the Democratic administration in Maryland had doubled funding to protect places of worship and community centres amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

In an exclusive interview, the Indian-American leader said the hostility was not limited to the Indian-American community, with immigrants from different backgrounds expressing concerns about their safety.

“They’re telling me, you know, these immigrants are telling us they’re scared. Parents are worried for their kids. Families are worried about their temples, their gurudwaras, their mosques, you know being attacked. And it is happening,” Miller said.

She blamed the federal administration’s rhetoric for creating an atmosphere in which immigrant communities felt increasingly targeted.

“This federal administration has cast a wide net in denigrating immigrants,” she said.

Miller, who herself came to the US as an immigrant, said immigrant communities had played a major role in building the American economy through businesses, job creation and community participation.

“I know this because I came here as an immigrant to this country, and I know the great opportunities that are available for people that are willing to work hard, that care about their communities,” she said.

Miller said Governor Wes Moore and she had taken several steps to protect immigrant communities in Maryland, including increasing security funding for religious institutions and community centres.

“We’ve actually doubled funding to protect houses of worship and community centers from our crosser state, you know, against being attacked,” she said.

She also cited a ban on local police entering into 287(g) agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the establishment of an immigration affairs office to help immigrants navigate available state services.

Miller said Maryland was the most diverse state in the Mid-Atlantic region, with more than one in six residents born outside the United States.

“Governor Moore and I built a government that looks like the state of Maryland, and we’re unapologetic about it, and we are unapogetic about standing up to hate,” she said.

The Maryland Lieutenant Governor also identified affordability as the biggest concern among voters ahead of the midterms, pointing to rising grocery bills, fuel prices and household energy costs.

She said Maryland had lost more than 31,000 federal jobs since January 2025, claiming the state had suffered the highest federal job losses in the country.

“When a family loses a paycheck, every bill gets harder to pay. And that’s just the beginning. It hits the contractors, the diners that they would normally visit, the small businesses that they go to. Everybody feels that impact,” she said.

Miller also blamed tariffs imposed by the Trump administration for pushing up prices, arguing that the additional costs were ultimately passed on to American consumers.

“Tariff isn’t just a fee on some other country. It’s a tax on the American people,” she said.

She further linked rising petrol prices to the US war with Iran, saying fuel prices had climbed from below $3 a gallon to nearly $5 a gallon, while diesel costs had increased by 70 per cent.

Miller said higher fuel and transportation costs would eventually push up grocery and home-heating expenses.

Asked what a Democratic majority in both chambers of Congress could mean for Americans, Miller said the priority would be to exercise congressional oversight and hold the Trump administration accountable.

She cited the administration’s actions on immigration enforcement and cuts to federal assistance programmes, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid.

“Our hope is that the Democratic majority will bring a Congress that that exercise is meaningful oversight. and holds this administration accountable, right? We, that’s our firewall against this administration,” she said.

Miller said congressional oversight was particularly necessary over ICE’s actions and federal policies affecting vulnerable families.

Ahead of election day, she also asked independent voters to assess whether they felt represented and whether they were able to thrive under the current economic conditions.

She said Governor Moore and she had introduced measures to ease the financial pressure on Maryland families, including direct energy rebates, efforts to increase clean energy supplies and temporary relief from state fuel taxes for farmers purchasing diesel.

Maryland has also banned dynamic pricing in retail grocery stores, Miller said.

“We are doing everything that we can to make sure that we provide relief to the pain that they’re feeling,” she said.- Ends

Rohit Sharma is an award-winning journalist residing in Washington DC.  His expertise and insightful pieces are regularly showcased on esteemed news channels and news websites.

Rohit's reputation as a respected journalist has earned him invitations as a guest speaker on prestigious platforms including BBC and many others News Channel. Notably, his work has been published in six Indian languages, showcasing his remarkable versatility and widespread impact in the field of journalism.