WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Maryland leaders reacted to 7News’ previous reporting that the Maryland Department of Health was paying for immigration lawyers to assist as many as 140 undocumented or underdocumented immigrants who are currently held in state psychiatric hospitals under court-ordered treatment. Those patients are in state psychiatric hospitals, as hundreds of citizens with mental illnesses are waiting in jails across the state because all the state hospital beds are full.
“To me, it looks like a misuse of funds,” said Calvert County Republican State Delegate Matt Morgan. He chairs the state Freedom Caucus and was among those questioning the practice.
“I think it’s appalling,” said Morgan. “I’m not sure that’s the proper role of the health department to be providing legal services.”…