County Mayor Jim Coppinger said a ruling by a federal judge means he does not have to decide on the controversial issue of refugee resettlement.
Judge Peter Messitte said an executive order from President Donald Trump giving states and localities the option of not accepting refugees was likely illegal.
He wrote, "By giving States and Local Governments the power to veto where refugees may be resettled—in the face of clear statutory text and structure, purpose, Congressional intent, executive practice, judicial holdings, and Constitutional doctrine to the contrary—Order 13888 does not appear to serve the overall public interest. Granting the preliminary injunctive relief Plaintiffs seek does. Refugee resettlement activity should go forward as it developed for the almost 40 years before Executive Order 13888 was announced."
County Mayor Coppinger had been the only one of the county leaders of the state's four largest cities not to sign allowing the resettlement
At a recent County Commission meeting he had been urged to sign.
At the time he said he was still mulling over the decision.
Mike Dunne of his office said, "Due to the legal ruling by the federal judge in Maryland, no decision needed to be made."