MIRA Coalition Blog

Change takes courage Mr. President!

2011-06-30T14:05:00.000-04:00

Today the change takes courage campaign is taking action across the nation urging the Obama administration to use its power and take action. We urge you to join us in this campaign and sign the Petition!

Deportations under President Obama have reached record levels. It’s a moral outrage that families are being separated, young people are being robbed of their future and public safety is being threatened by a system the president knows is broken. This must stop.

Too many families have been broken up thus far. It's time to change, time to show courage:

The Change Takes Courage Campaign is urging President Obama to keep families together by:

1. Keeping families together.

End the deportations of parents of U.S. citizen children. Separating parents from children is a morally reprehensible act. It’s violation of America’s core values. Consider the plight of Raul Cardenas of Denver who has been married to a U.S. citizen for more than 8 years and has a young daughter who is also a citizen and now faces deportation.
End the deportations of military veterans. Our nation must not turn on the very people who serve it and help preserve it. That is exactly what our broken immigration system is doing. Consider Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, who served the Army National Guard and sustained injuries that left him in a wheelchair and now faces deportation.
End the deportations of DREAM-eligible young people. In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama said: “Let’s stop expelling talented, responsible young people who can staff our research labs, start new businesses and further enrich this nation.” He was right, and he could end the practice right now with a stroke of his pen. Here are two students to whom he should be true to his word: Jackie and Jaime, high school seniors in Maryland, have been fighting to gain in-state tuition that will allow them to continue their education.
End the deportations of immigrants who have families, jobs and deep roots in America and are contributing to their communities. Our economy and our communities are made stronger by immigrants and immigration. We need look no further than the story of Mauricio Bautista who has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years, works at a bilingual school and is beloved by his community.
Provide protection for all immigrants who are vulnerable to deportation simply because their paperwork is currently in process, and they are trapped in a bureaucratic backlog. It’s intolerable that our broken system is punishing people who have legitimate and legal claims to be in this country. For example, Saad Nabeel was deported unfairly to Bangladesh last year but should have been allowed to stay to give time for his case to run it course.

2. Discontinue ICE programs that undermine the public safety of all communities

Making local police the agents of the Federal government contributes to civil rights violations, terror in communities and makes our neighborhoods less safe.

ICE should immediately clarify that states and municipalities are indeed allowed to opt out of Secure Communities.
It is clear that programs such as 287g, Secure Communities and the Criminal Alien program increase the likelihood of civil rights violation. The aggressive promotion of these programs should end immediately.
Where agreements already exist, ICE should defund/reduce funding.
Secure Communities should only be used for its intended purpose, to remove only those convicted of Level 1 offenses.
The Justice Department should immediately repudiate the memo from 2003 that purported to recognize the inherent authority of local and state law enforcement to enforce immigration law.

3. Protect all our workers

We must recognize the importance of those who live and work in our midst. No economic recovery can be achieved by our nation without respect for worker rights as a key element.

Moratorium on I-9 audits by ICE and SSA no-match letters
Protect workers’ rights to organize
Prevent unscrupulous employers from using any ICE and other federal resources to break up unions.
End use of E-Verify

Stop Anti-Immigrant Amendments!

2011-05-24T15:58:00.003-04:00

During last year's State Senate budget debate, a package of harmful amendments were passed that became the most severe blow to immigrant rights by the Massachusetts legislature in recent memory, the core effects of which eventually defused by the conference committee.

They are back.

Senators Tarr, Hedlund and Knapik filed a number of anti immigrant amendments in the FY2012 budget: from a 24 hour hotline to report suspected undocumented workers anonymously, to E-verify mandate and barring in-state tuition.

Please contact your Senators to let them know that you are against these amendments!

Sample call:

Hello, my name is _______ and I live in (city). I’m calling to strongly urge the Senator to vote NO on all anti-immigrant amendments to be debated in the Senate budget.

(If you would like you can list specific amendments by number, which are summarized below)

To find out who your Senator is please visit - www.wheredoivotema.com

Here is a summary of the amendments:

34	Basically bars US citizen children from state public housing if their parents do not have, do not yet have or cannot prove a lawful immigration status.
64	Allows police to seize your car if they suspect you are undocumented and to keep it and sell it if you are deportable
82	Increases penalties for using or creating false documents
122	· Requires any business providing any service to the state including subcontractors to use E-Verify · Requires the state to investigate any tip relating to a violation of immigration law · Increases the amount of times the state must verify immigration status · Fine for fraudulent driving learner’s permit · Most benefits programs would have to document legal status · Bars instate for undocumented · Limits the receipt of all medical benefits to lawfully present residents including emergency Medicaid, Healthy Start and the Health Safety Net
125	Poll workers may ask for state ID from anyone before voting
166	Requires all health services applications to be verified via federal database
353	· Creates 24 hr AG hotline to anonymously report suspected undocumented workers · Implement E-verify for all state contractors and vendors, and any subcontractors working with them
385	Requires a license or state ID to register a vehicle increases the penalties associated with using, creating, selling, or distributing an altered or false ID
407	Increases penalties for driving without a license
447	Requires a Social Security number for ALL medical applications

House Votes to Restore Health Care for Immigrants

2011-04-28T10:00:00.002-04:00

Last night, the House voted to fund the Commonwealth Care Bridge program (see previous post for details) at $25 million for at least six months of FY2012, with further funding down the road.

MIRA is grateful for its allies at the ACT Coalition, MLRI and others, and thanks the Governor Patrick's commitment since 2009 when the legal immigrant population was excluded. We are also thankful for Rep. Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford) for his leadership on the floor year after year, for Rep. Tim Toomey (D-Cambridge)'s amendment effort, and for the House leadership.

After the 150-4 vote at 10:00PM, which also included funding for Adult Day health services, Patrick said in a statement: "I am grateful that Speaker DeLeo and his colleagues in the House have recognized the vital importance of restoring funding that provides health care for legal, taxpaying immigrants here in Massachusetts. All of the Commonwealth's residents deserve access to quality and affordable health care, and by protecting this program we can continue to do just that.”

Protect Health Care Coverage!

2011-04-27T22:48:00.004-04:00

On April 15, Massachusetts’ House Ways & Means Committee eliminated the Commonwealth Care Bridge Program, threatening health care coverage for thousands of immigrants.

CommCare Bridge is a temporary, affordable and basic health care program that covers approximately 25,000 low- to moderate- income legal permanent residents, still under the 5-year residency waiting period for federally-funded coverage, like MassHealth.

MIRA, MLRI, ACT Coalition, and other allies are working closely with the Governor's Office and several State Representatives to amend the current House Budget to continue to fund the program at $50 million for FY 2012.

Two amendments are filed to restore the program: #715 (submitted by Rep. Cabral) and #750 (submitted by Rep. Toomey).

Without this coverage, these individuals can only rely on the over-burdened Health Safety Net program, adding cost prohibitive expenses to underfunded hospitals and health centers.

Cost issues aside, MIRA feels it is fundamentally wrong to disadvantage a sub-section of society based on their immigrant status.

Background on the Bridge program:

The Commonwealth Care Bridge Program is a state-subsidized health insurance program for “special status” legal immigrants who lost their Commonwealth Care coverage on August 31, 2009 because of changes in state law. The Bridge Program was created by the Massachusetts State Legislature to provide coverage for the individuals left uninsured by these changes. Bridge offers most of the benefits of Commonwealth Care, but does not include dental, vision, hospice or skilled nursing care.

Call your Representatives now (617-722-2000), and ask them to:

Support budget amendments #715 and #750 to continue the Commonwealth Care Bridge program at $50 million for fiscal year 2012.

House votes to restore health care for immigrants

2011-04-27T15:52:00.000-04:00

Last night, the House voted to fund the Commonwealth Care Bridge program (see previous post for details) at $25 for at least six months of FY2012, with further funding down the road.

After the 150-4 vote last night, which also included funding for Adult Day health services, Patrick said in a statement: "I am grateful that Speaker DeLeo and his colleagues in the House have recognized the vital importance of restoring funding that provides health care for legal, taxpaying immigrants here in Massachusetts. All of the Commonwealth's residents deserve access to quality and affordable health care, and by protecting this program we can continue to do just that.”

Applauding Refugee Resiliance

2011-04-13T13:55:00.004-04:00

As Boston sloughs winter, its streets fill with athletes logging the final miles for the spring running of the Boston Marathon. This year marks the 115^th annual race, which boasts a history much in line with the changing dynamic of life in the United States.

At the race’s inception, it was merely a local event, attracting a homogenous crowd of runners. Over the years, the race has grown in popularity and notoriety, becoming one of the worlds’ most recognized marathons. Owning a coveted race bib holds a great sense of accomplishment for runners from Boston to places as far reaching as Ethiopia or Mongolia. The field is composed of a hodge-podge of athletes from across the globe, a diverse event joining individuals from many nations with a single goal: to finish, and finish strong.

‘Marathon Monday’ is a celebration of human resiliency, the ability to rise, overcome physical limitations, and push oneself to new, physical (and mental) limits. The marathon is also a celebration of cultural diversity, during the event it does not matter what passport you hold, language you speak, where you were born—all that matters is how fast can you run?

For the world’s 25million refugees, everyday is ‘Marathon Monday,’ minus the crowds, the celebrations, or pomp and circumstance. Yet, the refugee experience is no less grueling, requiring more resiliency and dedication than shown by the fastest marathon runners.

Often, the cultural diversity attained through refugee resettlement is not openly celebrated. It still matters what passport they hold, language they speak, place they were born. Lost is the realization of, these things aside, all that truly matters is how much can we—all of us—do within our individual, contextual situations?

This display of the personal, human desire to overcome odds and accomplish great feats exists within each refugee. It, too, deserves celebration.

So, to the countless million refugees worldwide, today—and everyday—we applaud you.

Dani Grisby, MIRA Intern and marathoner, contributed to this post.

Immigrants' Day at the Sate House: State House News Service report

2011-04-07T12:34:00.001-04:00

REV. LIKENS IMMIGRANTS TO THOSE WHO HELPED BUILD THE “OLD AMERICA”

By Kyle Cheney
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, APRIL 6, 2011…..Urging diverse minority groups to unite and exert their influence on policymakers in Massachusetts and across the country, the head of a prominent interfaith group quoted scripture and drew cheers and applause at a State House rally Thursday with calls for “a pathway to citizenship” for illegal immigrants in America.

“When William Bradford and the Mayflower pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620, they did not bring any immigration papers. When John Winthrop arrived in 1630 with the next wave of New Englanders … they were not met with a wall built to keep them out,” said Rev. Hurmon Hamilton, president of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization. “Just as undocumented immigrants from Europe in the person of John Winthrop and William Bradford and undocumented immigrants from Africa … helped to build the old America in the then-New World, undocumented immigrants today are needed to build a new America in this new global world, and we need to say yes to that.”

Hamilton offered the keynote remarks at the foot of the capitol's Grand Staircase during the 15th-annual Immigrants’ Day on Beacon Hill, pounding the podium and raising his voice to a loud rasp as he equated today’s climate on immigration issues, punctuated by a years-long divide on reform plans in Washington, to the biblical story of the Good Samaritan, who rescued a man who had “fallen among thieves.”

“You have recently fallen among thieves,” he told the crowd. “Some of them are Republicans and some of them are Democrats on Capitol Hill. I say that the rest of us, African Americans and all the rest of us, have to be, for you, your good Samaritans. If we do not stop [to help], what will happen not only to you but what will happen to our country? We need your diversity, we need your capacity to help us to compete. We need you. Not just the other way around.”

Hamilton’s call landed on a receptive audience that included Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Jamaica Plain) and Rep. James O’Day (D-Worcester) who spoke in support of programs for immigrants, like English as a Second Language courses, adult education, and anti-domestic violence programs.

Lawmakers in the House narrowly rejected plans last year to implement more stringent identity checks for people seeking state services, a plan opposed by immigrant groups as discriminatory but backed by lawmakers who argued that services were being abused by ineligible people. The Senate passed an even more sweeping plan that would impose sanctions on employers that hire illegal workers, but the proposal was largely scrapped during budget negotiations with the House.

Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, noted that immigrant groups had been buoyed in recent weeks by Census data showing that Latino and Asian American communities, in particular, had surged over the last 10 years

“The road has been rocky and we have traveled through dark valleys as well as through sunny hills,” she said. “We are organizing our shared growth, our shared interest, by making our theme, ‘sharing power together.’ ”

Immigrant advocates plan to press lawmakers to provide $50 million in funding for health care coverage for certain legal immigrants, $27 million for adult basic education and ESL programs, $15 million for an employment services program and $6.4 million for a refugee and immigrant safety program.

Gov. Deval Patrick has voiced his support for immigrants’ causes, touting his administration’s “New Americans Agenda” – a 131-point plan that he has promised to implement by the end of his term and includes hot-button proposals to permitting illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and access in-state tuition rates at state colleges, proposals the governor has said would require changes in federal law.

The issues have failed to gain traction in recent years, and there is little evidence of an appetite for them within legislative leadership.

All credit due to Kyle Cheney
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

Preserve Refugee Resettlement and America's Ideals

2011-03-04T11:23:00.008-05:00

As Washington moves forward with largely symbolic cuts to the federal budget, with no substantive discussion on the biggest parts of spending (tax breaks for the rich, military, entitlements), many critical human services programs are being threatened.

In February, the House of Representatives approved drastic cuts to refugee services- including a 45% decrease for Migration and Refugee Assistance, which provides overseas assistance to refugees and funds the Reception and Placement (R&P) Grant for refugees resettled in the United States; and a 10.4% decrease for the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Although the Senate rejected them, the debate is to start all over again.

Call your Senator (John Kerry 202-224-2742and Scott Brown 202-224-4543) and urge them to support strong Fiscal Year 2012 funding for refugee accounts, Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance

Below is background information on the budget situation, talking points to use during the call, and directions on how to get in touch with your Members of Congress. Please take a minute to make this call to your Senators , it is very important that we make our voice heard!

What We Need to Do: Please call your Senators and urge them to not cut and support strong funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance. Please call as soon as possible and no later than the end of next week.

Script:

- Hello, my name is [name] and I'm calling from [name of town/city]. I am the [position title] at [name of resettlement agency] in [name of city].

- I am calling to ask [Senator] to not cut and support strong funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement and Migration and Refugee Assistance.

- My agency resettles and provides services to refugees in [name towns/cities in the member's district]. [Describe what you and your community do to support refugees and discuss the impact of cuts on funding could have on refugees in your community]

- As a constituent, I deeply care about the fate of refugees in the U.S. and our humanitarian commitment to vulnerable people overseas. Cutting these accounts will have a devastating impact on refugees and the communities hosting them.

Additional Talking Points

- The current economic/fiscal context: we understand the current economic/financial situation and understand that Congress and the Administration have to make difficult decisions in relation to the budget. We believe that cutting current level of funding for refugees would have a devastating effect on refugees resettled in the U.S. and the communities that welcome them.

- Overall funding for ORR has been chronically insufficient: ORR funding has been stagnant for decades in many programs. That means that today ORR is serving an increasingly complex and diverse population with the same amount of resources that served a rather homogenous population several decades ago.

- Supporting the public-private partnership: one of the greatest characteristics of the URSP is the partnership between the U.S. government and private organizations. Voluntary Agencies, churches, local NGOs, community groups, etc. work together to welcome refugees across the U.S. We are committed to continue our support to refugees, but the work cannot be accomplished without strong support and financial follow-through on the part of the U.S. government.

- Federal funds release pressure on state and local governments: it is important that the federal government provides adequate resources for ORR, since severely cutting funding for the program would mean additional pressure for state and local governments to assist refugees with their already dwindling budgets.

- Smart investment: Providing adequate funding for refugees through ORR to fund employment services, case management and other upfront services will save resources in the long term, reduce reliance on welfare and promote early self-sufficiency. Refugees have proven that they will be successful and contribute back to their communities if given the proper foundation to rebuild their lives in the U.S.

- Life saving assistance: Programs funded by the U.S. Government through these accounts are life saving. Without these programs, refugees will not receive necessary food, water, and medical assistance. The economic crisis has had a profound impact on the United States, but it has also had a devastating impact on extremely vulnerable populations supported by these life-saving programs. For many of these people, the assistance provided by the international community is their only source of support and last option for relief.

- Stabilizing assistance: Humanitarian assistance programs funded through this account support communities in countries of strategic importance to the U.S., such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia. Funds go towards such programs as access to economic opportunities, keeping kids in schools, and protecting and empowering women. These all serve as a crucial stabilizing presence, giving people hope for the future and supporting broader U.S. foreign policy interests

Worcester Immigrants Say No to "S-Comm"

2011-03-01T14:12:00.013-05:00

"We blew it," said John Grossman on Saturday afternoon to a Worcester meeting room packed with 150 to 200 immigrants. "And I’m here to apologize."

As undersecretary for the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, Grossman was referring to the collective failure of the Patrick administration to consult with the state's immigrant community before signing onto a controversial new immigration enforcement program, Secure Communities. The Worcester meeting, held at the city’s public library and hosted by The African Council, was the first of ten gatherings across the state at which Patrick’s representatives will work to rectify that wrong. Grossman promised that community questions and concerns would all be considered, and then "the governor is going to make a decision [about signing onto Secure Communities] sometime over the summer."

Judging from the passion of the questions and concerns aired in the two-hour meeting, the governor will be making that decision having heard that immigrants across Massachusetts oppose Secure Communities loud and clear. Slated for national implementation by 2013, the federal program reports the fingerprints of all persons arrested by local police to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which then may ask local police to hold the immigrant until deportation proceedings can begin. ICE's stated intention is to catch and deport serious criminal offenders, but studies have shown that non-criminals are often ensnared in the program's huge net. Secure Communities has operated in Boston as a pilot program since 2006. According to statistics going back to November 2008, 53 percent of those deported through Boston’s operations have NOT been criminal offenders. The primary effect of the program, instead, has been to turn local police into de facto immigration officials.

Speaking on a two-person panel, undersecretary Grossman enumerating the most common concerns about Secure Communities -- concerns that the community reiterated throughout the afternoon. First, it breaks the bond of trust built between immigrant communities and local police, potentially making our towns and cities more insecure for everyone. Second, it could encourage zealous police officers to target those they suspect of being undocumented, therefore raising the ugly specter of racial profiling. Third, Secure Communities contradicts President Obama’s claim to support just and humane immigration reform. As the president well knows, the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are otherwise law-abiding workers and family members. Given this country's antiquated and thoroughly dysfunctional immigration system, deportation is a punishment that far exceeds these immigrants’ violations, with reverberations that can decimate families and local communities as well.

The second panelist, MIRA Executive Director Eva Millona, elaborated on the program's problems in her portion of the presentation, offering charts showing the preponderance of non-criminal and low-level offenders actually deported in Boston and other municipalities. Millona also stressed the lack of transparency and complaint mechanisms in the system.

After the panel presentations, the audience stepped forward with questions and comments for the remainder of the two-hour meeting. In addition to numerous immigrants who spoke of their fears and concerns for loved ones, the commentators included a local Episcopalian Minister, a Worcester immigration lawyer, at least one domestic violence councilor, and a representative for Worcester Mayor Joseph O’Brien, who read a public letter asking Governor Patrick to reject the program. Most of the speakers addressed the governor’s delegation in English, though translators were on hand for those speaking Spanish and Portuguese.

Undersecretary Grossman stressed that legal confusion reigns about the governor’s obligation to sign onto the program, and he noted that it didn't need the administration’s approval to go forward. Grossman also offered some defense of the program itself, noting that the Ecuadoran mother and child recently killed in Brockton could possibly have been saved by Secure Communities. But others noted that mechanisms are already in place to catch dangerous criminals with immigration violations, and that Governor Patrick should listen to the concerns of the vast majority of law-abiding immigrants, just as he did during the hearings for the New Americans Agenda (NAA).

“Two years ago, through the NAA Executive Order, the governor showed leadership in the nation,” said Dolores Thibault-Muñoz, director of the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center, an organization that participated in the NAA hearings. “I ask the governor, instead of signing on to the Secure Communities program, that he implement the 131 recommendations he committed to in the NAA. If he signs onto Secure Communities instead, it’s like taking 131 steps backward.”

Congratulation to POSSE Recipient Rose Pierre-Louis

2011-02-25T12:20:00.005-05:00

Annually, MIRA nominates up to ten students as candidates to a full four-year college scholarship, given out by the POSSE Foundation. The competition is fierce, and we understand that the chance of winning is slim. Nevertheless, in 2010 MIRA nominated seven students from different high schools. One young Haitian immigrant, Rose Pierre-Louis, was chosen to receive the award, which will fund her full education at an excellent school -- an achievement no less amazing than her whole life story. For all she has done, we congratulate Rose, and proudly relate her story.

Rose was brought from Haiti at age five by her parents, who hoped she would have a better chance at an education in the U.S. She was just starting first grade when she arrived, and were it not for her mother’s support, the transition would have been a major challenge. “Some afternoons she’d help me and explain the days in English, and help me count in English, " Rose says. "I knew basic things, but had a challenge when I started school”.

Rose also has three brothers living in Haiti, and one sister born in the US. The separation from her siblings was difficult, and made much harder later with the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. Still, she looks to her brothers for inspiration, while doing the best to be an example for her younger sister.

In seventh grade, Rose was accepted at a prestigious public school in the city, and she underwent another transition. Having spent most of her education in Catholic school, where the ethnic composition was usually Haitian or West Indian, she found moving to the public school system a cultural and educational shock. She was able to maneuver herself around, and use her friendly, respectful persona to win new and lasting friendships.

As the college process began, Rose underwent the all-too-common experience of seeing the future almost slip from her grasp. “The college search is extremely stressful," she explains. "Everyone said do early decision, and so I did, but I started looking for how to pay first. I was looking at scholarships since sophomore year. At first, I’d get really excited and say ‘I can do this easily!’ But then at the very end of every scholarship application, there it was: 'You must be a U.S. Citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident.'"

As a Temporary Protected Status holder, she could not meet the scholarships' standard requirements (though TPS is a legal status, it has several limitations). “A lot of the colleges were expensive, and financial aid was always for citizens or residents," Rose continued. "Mom asked me to apply to schools she could pay for." But still, her dream was to attend "a small liberal arts school.”

MIRA had been in conversation with several schools, looking to nominate immigrant students who would otherwise struggle with access to higher education. A councilor from Rose's school mentioned her more than once as a top student, whose desire to succeed was evident in her work as a tutor and a peer adviser to her friends. While this nomination process was taking place, Rose told us that she and her family even came to the point of fighting over the schools she could apply to.

After being nominated and going through the process of selection, Rose was given the final interview date. She and another five Haitians were all trying for POSSE, altogether afraid that, because of diversity, the foundation would only pick one Haitian student. The day that all the interviews were done, Rose went home, not expecting to hear for some time about the results. “I got home at seven, and about an hour later they called me to say I would get it," Rose says. "From these kids I was with on the interview day, four of us got the scholarship.”

POSSE will send Rose to Bryn Mawr, her top choice. She is thinking of a double major in biology and English. The new school will once again be a complete change in environment. She's looking forward to being in a place where all the students are women, who will mingle with different faiths, different points of views, etc.

Her family has been very supportive, “I love them, they are just so great about it.” Her father is extremely happy. Her three brothers all have degrees, and now they can rejoice their sister will soon have one too. The feeling is simple and profound; there are several hands placed in her back supporting her, blessing her. She is becoming that exact role model for her younger sister who was born here in the U.S. Things may be simpler for her, but Rose continues to be the best person she can be; following by example, leading by example.

Congratulations Rose Pierre-Louis!

Mixed messages for immigrants in the National Budget

2011-02-16T15:36:00.004-05:00

President Obama’s FY2012 federal spending bill includes two conflicting proposals for immigrant integration. On one hand, the President’s proposed $19.75 million for the Office of Citizenship marks an increase of $1.76 million compared with FY11 (which the GOP-controlled House of Representatives wants to completely eliminate). This is a critical commitment to helping already-integral legal permanent residents to fully participate in our civic life and democratic process by becoming US Citizens.

On the other hand, the President proposed deep cuts to Community Service Block Grants (CSBG), which has been the federal government’s only comprehensive approach to address the needs of economically vulnerable residents – helping immigrants and citizens get the services they need to recover from the recession. A cut in CSBG spending will decimate successful and fiscally-efficient programs such as the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and Tri-City Community Action Program (Tri-Cap) in Malden. These programs, along with the 1000+ agencies across 99 percent of U.S. counties, together retained over 18,000 jobs, and help provide critical support in employment, workforce training, housing, utilities, child care, disabilities services, etc.

MIRA and other immigrant advocates welcome the Office of Citizenship funding, with which it will continue the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, fee reform, public awareness initiative. The funding can also expand the Citizenship Resource Center, establish regional Citizenship outreach officers, and advance civics and literacy education programs.

However, without economic security, which the defunding of Community Action agencies undermines, it will encumber the naturalization process for many working- and middle-class legal permanent residents. While acquiring citizenship is in many ways a milestone for immigrant integration, the federal government’s role in improving economic security, community development and workforce training needs to go hand in hand to comprehensively integrate New Americans into our social, economic and civic future.

Displaced in Kenya

2011-01-31T16:35:00.002-05:00

Written by Dani Grigsby, MIRA Intern

Immigration is traditionally considered an occurrence that requires crossing an international border. The latter portion of the 20^th century saw the emergence of a new area of academic study in relation to human movement, that being the movements of individuals, unwillingly, within a nation’s borders, qualifying them as the newly termed internationally displaced persons (IDPs).

The study of IDPs, their subsequent legal definition, rights, and social resources is complex and ever changing as the world’s complex political environment continues to create opportunities for the definition of an IDP to be tested, tried and redefined.

One such instance of IDP creation occurred in Kenya, the east-African nation, in the post-2007 presidential election violence.

I had the opportunity to participate in Tuft’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy’s sponsored field-based thesis research in relation to gender identity as a driving factor in the occurrence of violence in the east-African country of Kenya post-2007 presidential election. This fighting proffered another instance where IDPs were created and their treatment, rights and resources needed definition.

I conducted interviews with a survivor of the violence, an IDP and the following are my personal reflections:

By January 27, 2008 the violence had quieted throughout Kenya. The Burnt Forest region, one of the areas hardest hit, had been mostly stabilized. The warring parties were still living separately, as IDPs, devoid of a functional economy. The Kenyan police had moved into the area to assist in its stabilization and to provide a measure of services to these internally displaced.

On this particular day, the police from Eldoret were moving slowly down the road between Eldoret town and Burnt Forest removing the remaining roadblocks.

The IDPs and villagers of Burnt Forest were unaware of these actions and, upon seeing the roadblocks removed, began to scatter chaotically, fearing a reoccurrence of violence.

The police stationed in Burnt Forest, mandated to prevent the congregation of youth—or men, in general—in groups, began chasing after the villagers as they scattered, fearing they, the villagers, were about to incite violence.

These misunderstandings, from both sides, further contributed to the day’s chaos.

The woman, whose story I was collecting, was the mother of 11 children. Her eldest son and husband were in the town center as this madness ensued. Her son, a restaurant worker, retreated into his place of work and locked the door, hoping to protect it from looting. Seeing this action, the police broke down the door trying to disperse the young men, fearing their congregation. This young man and his co-workers fled out the back and began to run.

The police followed, armed, and began to fire at the young men. Moments into the chase a bullet tore through the back of this woman’s son’s skull. He dropped, deceased at 24.

Horrifically, his father, this woman’s husband, was a direct witness to his son’s death. In terror, he rushed to his son’s limp body. As he reached the boy and attempted to raise his son off the ground, he too was gunned down, dying in a heap on top of his son’s body.

Through her tears my interviewee begged me for explanation.

“Why did they have to kill them? Worse, why did they have to kill BOTH of them?”

She lost her family’s two breadwinners that day.

Her home had previously been burned and she was summarily left without a home, an IDP, without skills enough to provide for herself, left without sons of age to assist, without enough money to educate her daughters beyond the standard age of eight.

And this is how I found her, her situation unchanged over two years later. While no longer qualifying as an IDP, she was granted access to housing through the charitable generosity of a neighbor, though without access to permanent housing and permanent sustainable livelihood she lives a day-to-day survivalist existence, with no capital accrued, and no option for self-promotion.

Her hands, work chapped, held tightly a photo album containing snap-shots of her son and husband. These few photos comprised the most modern possessions included in her wood-slated home.

Tears sting at my eyes. Asante sana. Profound.

What Would Martin Do?

2011-01-31T16:19:00.001-05:00

Written by Sara Veliz, Communications Intern

“Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress”.—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is grimly ironic that the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords occurred within days of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This bloody assassination attempt, which left six bystanders dead, once again showed that the gun violence which ended Dr. King’s life still trumps his historic message of love, tolerance, and nonviolent action. Even more ironic is the fact that these bullets were fired in a particular place — Tucson, Arizona — at a particular person – a Democratic Congresswoman. This much is indisputable: Representative Giffords was a significant minority voice opposing a rising anti-immigrant political tide in Arizona. As the majority of Latinos and African-Americans in this country see it, this tide of anti-immigrant sentiment has the real potential of washing away the social progress Dr. King’s Civil Rights Movement had accomplished for many Americans.

Like most ironies, this one is about the stirring of feelings, about associations. It has nothing to do with the shooter’s “real” motives, or the lack thereof. No doubt, there’s plenty of evidence to show that Jared Lee Loughner was not influenced by political rhetoric from one party or another, but that he was acting out the impulses of a paranoid-schizophrenic. But while liberals are seen as opportunistically making this tragedy into a political pedestal from which to cast blame against conservative ranters like the Tea Party, no one can deny that the rhetoric from the right has become more heated, and that their political actions more extreme, than at any time since the pre-civil rights era that Dr. King worked so hard to change.

For many people, the apex of that extremism was the signing of SB 1070 by Gov. Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010. Though the law was largely enjoined by a federal judge last summer, SB 1070 was set to empower Arizona law enforcement to stop any person they suspected of being in the United States illegally. SB 1070 made it a crime not to carry federal documents identifying the legal status of the person in question. It also targets people who knowingly hire and transport illegal immigrants. As many of its critics have pointed out, all of these provisions are an invitation for harassment and racial profiling. In the words of Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, Arizona, SB 1070 is not only “unnecessary,” it’s “unwise, it's stupid, and it's racist.” After the tragic shooting in Tucson, his conclusion about the groundwork for SB 1070 resonates all the more chillingly: “The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous...We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

This is the atmosphere in which Representative Giffords worked, in which her campaign offices suffered physical attacks, in which a leading national politician felt it was appropriate to “target her” on a map with the crosshairs from a gun scope. The tragic shooting became a physical representation of the political and social insensitivity currently occurring in this nation.

No wonder a national tragedy has led many to question how far we have strayed from the values of Dr. King. I think we need to go further. Dr. King didn’t just stand for “peace” as an end to itself; he stood for peace as a means toward justice, toward human rights. Americans need to re-analyze not just the heat of their rhetoric, but its target too. And, yes, that means they need to re-consider where their opposition to immigrants stems from. As Sheriff Dupnik also said about SB 1070, it is a “national embarrassment,” and the embarrassment stems not just from its tenor, but its intent.

Pro-Immigrant State Bills 2011-2012

2011-01-28T12:27:00.003-05:00

We are happy to report that TEN bills with positive impacts on immigrant rights and integration were filed for the new legislative session, including An Act Regarding Higher Education Opportunities for High School Graduates in the Commonwealth (formerly in-state tuition bill) by Rep. Wolf, Rep. Provost, and Sen. Chang-Diaz. (House Docket #2036, no bill number yet).

The deadline for co-sponsorships is 5:00pm on Friday, February 4th. We need YOUR help to gather as many co-sponsors as possible!

Please ask to your legislators to co-sponsor the bills listed below ASAP. To co-sponsor a bill, legislative staff can use the State House electronic co-sponsor system and enter for example: “Higher Education Opportunities.” Let us know which legislators you’ve talked to so we can inform the bill’s lead sponsors.

We need to increase co-sponsorships for these pro-immigrant bills:

MIRA Coalition 2011-2012 State Legislative Priorities

Search for your State Representative and State Senator:
www.wheredoivotema.com
617-722-2000

DOWNLOAD PDF

Health care coverage for immigrants to be funded through June 2011 (FY2011)

2011-01-06T14:31:00.001-05:00

MIRA welcomes the new year with great news — Just as it was about to run out at the end of January, the Commonwealth Care Bridge program has been funded until the end of this fiscal year, June 30, 2011!

Governor Patrick submitted and the legislature passed the supplemental budget approving these funds shortly after a productive late December meeting with Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez and Connector Executive Director Glen Shor. Hosted by Healthcare for All, the meeting was attended by MIRA, SEIU 1199, Mass Law Reform Institute, the American Cancer Society, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and the MA Hospital Association.

Thanks to our members, partner advocates, and the administration for not forgetting the the group of over 20,000 tax-paying permanent residents, or AWSS (aliens with special status). The program (run by CeltiCare) was completely cut by the legislature last Spring during the FY2011 budget process, with the possibility of funding it via federal FMAP funding (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages). Although FMAP funding was appropriated for Massachusetts, the program eventually went unfunded, and was temporarily extended through the Commonwealth Trust Fund.

This latest decision to fully extend funding is significant relief for thousands of families, but comes with a caveat: it does not allow new enrollees. MIRA will continue to keep you posted on the program.

In addition, we are excited to share that the supplemental budget also included promised funding for the Department of Public Health line item which covers the RISE programs (Refugee Immigrant Safety & Empowerment), making good on the legislative promise that this line would not receive cuts if federal funding was granted.

Extending Gateway Communities: Immigrant population rises in small cities, suburbs

2011-01-04T16:26:00.003-05:00

The latest American Community Survey, an in-depth look at US demography by the Census Bureau, indicates that more and more immigrants have begun to move into smaller cities and suburban areas in the past few years. Immigrants have found a piece of the American dream in cities like Everett, Malden, Revere, and many other surrounding towns. An increase in job opportunities and close proximity to Boston has almost tripled the population of immigrants in Boston-area cities since 1990.

Many immigrants are moving to cities like Everett because they can find work while remaining a part of a major metro area. Most importantly, moving to smaller cities often provides the chance to send their children to better schools. Suburban areas have also seen an increase in their immigrant population, including towns like Marlborough, Waltham, and Lexington. While immigrants will ultimately contribute economically and socially to these communities, it's important to educate the current residents about the positive contributions newcomers will make through programs like Welcoming America.

An increase in the immigrant population has also been seen in rural areas. Regions that have only seen a small increase in their population at 2% per year, have documented that 37% of that small increase consists of the foreign-born.

In the past decade the increased movement of immigrants into suburban and rural areas can be understood in relation to the growth of the construction and food industry. Both industries give many immigrants the opportunity to work and provide for their families--the main motivator for their hard work and sacrifice.

Cities close to Boston have seen the economic benefits that immigrant entrepreneurs have made to their cities. The diversity and contributions to the economy have been increasing as their numbers have. And with each step immigrants take out of the city, the wider their voices will be heard. Legislators will have to pay closer attention to these changing demographics as immigrants become important constituents in more and more districts.

Recent immigrants are settling beyond the urban core, and into suburban and rural regions, extending their hopes and dreams for a good life beyond city life.

More info:

Boston Globe Article

New York Times Article

WBUR

Many reasons not to implement Immigration program: "Secure Communities"

2010-12-21T14:42:00.001-05:00

Currently, when the police arrests a suspect, their fingerprints are sent to the FBI, which checks a criminal database to verify identity and see if they are wanted in other places. Under “Secure Communities”, the FBI will run fingerprints against an immigration database. If there is no match for an existing record, fingerprints are added to the immigration database (no matter what the immigration status is of the person arrested). If there is a match, the FBI sends information to ICE to check status. ICE then sends information to the police and ICE's local Enforcement and Removal Office, who then determines to hold the individual until ICE can take custody. All of this can happen before formal charges are filed.

Secure Communities often ensnares hard-working immigrants guilty of no crime:

"Secure Communities” has not done what it is supposed to do – go after dangerous criminals. 75 % of those deported under this program have NOT been dangerous criminals.
In Boston, over half of the deportees – 53% -- have not even been accused of any criminal offense whatsoever.
By clogging up the system with low-level or civil cases, “Secure Communities” takes ICE’s resources from actually pursuing real criminals.

“Secure Communities” breeds distrust between police and the community, decreasing safety for everyone:

Community members are already expressing alarm and are fearful to have any interaction with police.
The program COULD encourage racial profiling. Police would know that everyone they arrest would get an immigration check. We have already heard cases of racial profiling in the Western & Central Mass.
Victims of domestic violence are often accused by their abuser and subsequently arrested, making them prime targets for deportation through“Secure Communities”. The program may even discourage women from reporting life-threatening conditions.

The mechanism of “Secure Communities” is seriously flawed:

There is no way to appeal for people who believe they have been wrongly identified in ICE’s database.
There is no program oversight, to be sure that any of the abuses, such as racial profiling, are not taking place.
The governor rightly said before that we need much more data about the program before spreading it widely. We still do not have that data.

Massachusetts already has an effective system for identifying and deporting criminals.

MA already has a 287 g accord with the house of corrections, so criminals who are actually convicted already go through the deportation process after serving their time.
This system could potentially tie up bed space in local jails, where people are held before transfer to ICE.

The governor’s rationale for signing on now doesn’t make sense.

The Governor claims that he is legally required to sign-on to Secure Communities. This is false — there is no legal requirement to sign-on. ICE plans to make Secure Communities national by 2013, but they will do so regardless of whether a jurisdiction wants it or not.
The Governor is claiming that he is signing on to Secure Communities in order to "have a seat at the table". There is no table. In prior discussions between state officials and ICE, ICE has said that there is no flexibility and that they are not willing to put any limitations on their enforcement authority.

ICE’s claim that this program focuses its efforts on “Dangerous Offenders” is dubious for three reasons:

There is no reason to believe that ICE resources are that limited.
ICE resources expand every year, so even if this claim is true now, it won't be true in the near future.
The majority of dangerous offenders are serving time in prison. ICE resources won't be used on them until their prison terms are up, leaving resources free to go after other immigrants.

This is a problematic program that will not properly secure our communities!

Stand for Public Safety

2010-12-21T11:19:00.004-05:00

The Patrick Administration abruptly reversed course last week and announced it would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), entering the state into the controversial "Secure Communities" program. (See previous post for details)

Law enforcement enrolled in the program automatically runs fingerprints of all arrested persons against an ICE database.In practice, however, the program has had numerous problems. Nationally, almost 80% of those deported have not been dangerous criminals, and in Boston, over half of those deported have not been guilty of any crime (immigration violations are generally a civil, not a criminal, offense).The program is also criticized by immigrant and civil rights advocates for potentially increasing racial profiling, and for decreasing levels of trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities

CALL Governor Patrick NOW at 617-725-4005 and tell him that you disapprove his agreement with ICE and not to implement this racial bias program in our state!

Sample Script:

My name is _____________ and I live in the city/town of ___________. I am calling Governor Patrick to say that I disapprove his intention to sign the Secure Communities agreement with ICE, when it's NOT mandatory. The Governor should cancel his decision that will increase racial profiling and decrease trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. Thank you!

Join Centro Presente and advocates TOMORROW in denouncing Massachusetts' intention to sign on to 'Secure Communities'

When: Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Where: In front of Massachusetts State House

Gov. Patrick to sign "Secure Communities" agreement

2010-12-18T00:13:00.027-05:00

Immigrant and Refugee Community Oppose Patrick's"Secure Communities" Accord
Agreement called premature and potentially dangerous

BOSTON -- The Patrick Administration abruptly reversed course today and announced it would sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE), entering the state into the controversial "Secure Communities" program. Law enforcement enrolled in the program automatically runs fingerprints of all arrested persons against an ICE database. The federal government's intention is to flag and detain those with immigration violations, thus improving the apprehension and deportation of dangerous criminals, or "Level 1" offenders. In practice, however, the program has had numerous problems. Nationally, almost 80% of those deported have not been "Level 1" violators, and in Boston, over half of those deported have not been guilty of any criminal behavior whatsoever (immigration violations are generally a civil, not a criminal, offense). The program is also criticized by immigrant and civil rights advocates for potentially increasing instances of racial profiling, and for decreasing levels of trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

Governor Deval Patrick had previously named these and other systematic concerns as issues needing further scrutiny before the state entered into any formal "Secure Communities" accord. Nationally, the program has been slowed in jurisdictions that expressed similar misgivings, which has called into question the ability ICE to appropriately implement "Secure Communities" nationwide by 2013.

"Governor Patrick has previously shown great sensitivity to the concerns expressed by the state's immigrant and refugee communities," said Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. "That is why we were shocked and deeply disappointed that he would reverse course without any apparent need. We continue to believe that the state should hold off from signing any "Secure Communities" accord until the program is fully scrutinized and its serious flaws addressed. We can only conclude that the governor is receiving faulty legal advice, and we urge him and his advisers to reconsider this unnecessary and potentially dangerous decision at this time."

Press Contact: Franklin Soults, Communications Director 617-350-5480 ext. 204, 216-849-2271, fsoults@miracoalition.org

The charts below, compiled by ACLU, show ICE data of Secure Communities program implemented in Boston. Even though ICE claims that the program is targeted at serious "Level 1" offenders, more than half of all detainers placed and deportations carried out are of non-criminal individuals.

Senate Votes Tomorrow on DREAM Act

2010-12-17T23:21:00.008-05:00

Sixty votes needed to overcome Republican-led filibuster

Last night Senate majority leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the DREAM Act and a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The procedure locked in a vote on the DREAM Act for Saturday morning at around 10 a.m. The DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrant youth to earn their citizenship by attending college or serving in the military for two years. The bill passed the House of Representatives last week, but faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, where it must obtain 60 votes to overcome a Republican-led filibuster.

Massachusetts Senator John Kerry supports the DREAM Act, but Senator Scott Brown declared his opposition to the bill as recently as Monday. His opposition stands in stark contrast to the endorsement of DREAM by university presidents from Bunker Hill to Harvard and editorial boards from the Boston Globe to the Boston Herald.

The following is a statement from Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition."Hundreds of thousands of innocent youth across this country are waiting on the U.S. Senate to end their legal, social and economic limbo by passing the DREAM Act. The version now before the Senate is the toughest yet devised, with provisions that limit its one-time applicability to youth under the age of 30 who came to this country at age 15 or younger, and who completed their high school studies here. The parents of these children would generally not be eligible for any benefit from this act, and the children themselves would have to pay for college without the benefit of any government assistance."

"Massachusetts has the seventh largest immigrant population in the nation, with one million foreign-born residents," Millona continued. "This week, the census bureau release information that confirms the diversity and vitality of that population, which represents 17 % of our workforce and has helped keep our economy among the nation's strongest in these difficult economic times. The youth that this bill serves would only further bolster our communities and our economy. As the Congressional Budget Office has shown, these youth would contribute billions in additional tax receipts to our states and our nation, if only we give them a chance. We hope that Senator Brown and others who have been opposed to DREAM will reconsider their position, allowing these youth to become a full part of the only country they know as home."

MIRA urges everyone to contact the Senate at the following numbers:

Contact YOUR Senator (these lines patch you directly to your state senator)
Spanish: 866-961-4293
English: 866-996-5161

Contact a TARGET Senator (this line randomly routes to senators who need to hear from voters)
Spanish 866-956-3902
English: 866-587-6101

Watch the Senate Debate LIVE Saturday starting at 10:00AM:

Photo: Students gathered for “United We Dream! Commencement Ceremony,” in Washington, D.C. Photo: NIKKI KAHN/KRT/Newscom

Health care for immigrants extends to January 31

2010-12-14T14:37:00.016-05:00

Thousands of families were bracing for the worst this holiday season in their health care coverage, but there is a bit more breathing room. The Patrick administration recently confirmed that the Commonwealth Care Bridge program (run by CeltiCare) will be extended until January 31. This temporary program is the only affordable health insurance plan that covers a group of 27,000 tax-paying permanent residents, or AWSS (aliens with special status). It was completely cut by the legislature last Spring during the FY2011 budget process, with the possibility of funding it via federal FMAP funding (Federal Medical Assistance Percentages). Although FMAP funding was appropriated for Massachusetts, the program eventually went unfunded.

Although a December 2010 report by the Commonwealth's Division of Health Care Finance and Policy boasts health insurance coverage rate of 98.1%, 120,000 Massachusetts residents are still uninsured. If the Commonwealth Care Bridge program goes unfunded after January 2011, it would increase the uninsured rates by almost 25%, leaving thousands of families vulnerable, disrupting critical medical procedures and relationships with providers, and further strain the state's Health Safety Net program.

The administration indicates a commitment to find other means to fund the program through the end of the fiscal year (June 2011) in the absence of legislative action. Health care and immigrant advocates hope that the FY2012 budget, which begins deliberation in January, will continue to fund this vital program.

Broad Group Asks Senator Brown to Support DREAM Act

2010-12-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

Students join with reps from academia, faith & government at Boston City Hall

Ada Fuentes, Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo, and Renata Teodoro

BOSTON -- A broad coalition of government, faith, community and higher education leaders gathered at Boston City Hall on Monday morning to ask Senator Scott Brown to change his opposition to the DREAM Act, a bill that passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday and now faces the prospect of a Republican-led filibuster in the Senate.

The DREAM Act creates a pathway to citizenship, via two years of college study or service in the military, for undocumented youth brought here as children. "It gives us the opportunity to be the best of who we are," said Brinton Lykes, Professor of Psychology and Associate Director of the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Boston College." That is, to recognize, even in these difficult times, that individual effort may still lead to success."

The speakers touched on a range of reasons for supporting DREAM, from the $2.3 billion in estimated new tax revenues it would generate, to the simple fact that, as former Chairman of the Board of Higher Education Aaron Spencer noted, "It is not American to punish people for the crimes and misdeeds of others."

After opening remarks by Eva Millona, Executive Director of MIRA, and a prayer for DREAM by Father Thomas Domorat, of the Most Holy Redeemer Parish in East Boston, Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo rose to speak of the clear necessity of honoring the pleas of students brought to this country as children and now left without any options. "They are as American and feel as American as those of us born in this country," Councilor Arroyo said, pointing to moderator Ada Fuentes, who only learned she was undocumented at age 17. "Now we are respectfully asking Senator Scott Brown to change his mind and vote for the DREAM Act."

Patricia Montes, Executive Director of Centro Presente, looked back to Senator Brown's campaign, when he stressed he was running for "the people's chair." Calls to the Senator's office, Montes said, were running five to one in favor of DREAM. "Now, Senator Brown, we ask you to please listen to what the people are saying and support the DREAM Act."

The event was closed by Renata Teodoro of the Student Immigrant Movement, who outlined the work that SIM has done to encourage support for DREAM. "We've gotten this far," Teodoro said. "Now the rest is up to Senator Brown."

Update on the Shermeyateva 16 - Act Now!

2010-12-12T17:59:00.004-05:00

Good news! The Shermeyateva 16 is now down to 14. Two members have been resettled to Sweden.

Bad news: there are still 14 people stuck in the Moscow airport. We cannot stop writing Amnesty International, asking them to take this deserving group on as a focus case.

Here's an e-mail I recently received from Suheeb, one of the 16 stranded, which really expresses the severity of their situation.

Dear Dani,

We are doing good but are still in the airport. We were told we may get to go to Sweden but we're not sure.

Two of us have recently been sent to Sweden, they came to the airport before us. Now we are hoping insha Allah.

It will be very painful to be stateless for the new year. Especially as we have almost been here a year.

We don't know who to blame for this situation. But it's really bad when this huge planet cannot find room for you within any border, for no reason. We did not commit a crime, we are just seeking asylum. Maybe we can go to the planet mars, maybe life is better there.

Also, it's really hard for me to see what the two women who are with us have to go through. Most of us, we are men, But for the women to suffer, it really hurts me, too much. They have no privacy.

Any information you have from amnesty on our case?

Thank you,

If you've emailed on their behalf before, please do so, again. While we received a response from AI-USA (telling us to talk to the London office) we have yet to hear anything from London.

Send emails to: amnestyis@amnesty.org

"Hello!

My name is _____________, and I am writing to request that Amnesty International take up, as an urgent action, the case of 16 Somalis who, as victims of a smuggling scheme, have been stranded in the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow for the past ten months. The Russian Federation is required under international law to assist these Somalis and allow them to access courts and other mechanisms that would facilitate their right to asylum. So far, the Russian Federation has failed to meet even the most basic of its international obligations in this case. We, as members of the international community, thus have an obligation to stand in solidarity with the Somalis and to make our voices be heard.

Thank you for taking this case into consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here"

Write to the author of this post Dani Grisby, Policy Intern, at grigsby@miracoalition.org

Press Advisory: House Passes DREAM Act to Senate

2010-12-09T13:07:00.003-05:00

House Passes DREAM Act to Senate
Immigrant Youth thank Mass delegation, ask Senator Brown not to crush DREAM

BOSTON -- Late Wednesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, a bill enabling undocumented youngsters who were brought to the U.S. as children to enlist in the military or attend college on their way to becoming citizens. The bill passed by a vote of 216 to 198, with all ten representatives from Massachusetts voting in favor, minus retiring Congressman Bill Delahunt, who did not vote. Supporters noted that DREAM will create billions of dollars in tax revenues and integrate hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth into the economic and social fabric of the nation they were raised in.

The DREAM Act now moves to the U.S. Senate, where a filibuster by Senate Republicans seeks to stop DREAM from coming to consideration on the floor. Sixty votes are needed to end the filibuster, and as of this morning an effort was underway to circumvent the vote by introducing the House version to the Senate next week. Starting today a concerted effort by Massachusetts immigrant youth and their allies hopes to move Massachusetts' junior Senator, Scott Brown, from his apparent opposition to DREAM.

"We want to thank everyone who has supported the DREAM Act for the House vote," said Jose Palma, Lead Organizer of the Student Immigrant Movement (SIM). "But we can't stop now. We ask everyone to take a moment to contact Senator Brown and let him know that youth in Massachusetts and the nation need him to support DREAM."

Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), strongly supported Palma's sentiments. "We at MIRA also give our heartfelt thanks to all the members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, including Representative Stephen Lynch here in Greater Boston, whose ultimate yes vote demonstrates his attention to the extraordinary diversity of his district.We also thank Senator Kerry for his unflagging support in the Senate.

"But we also ask supporters here and in Washington to keep moving forward," Millona continued. "Please contact Senator Brown and ask him to support DREAM "

You can contact Senator Brown by calling a switchboard at 866-996-5161, or by calling the senator's offices directly at 202-224-4543 or 617-565-3170.

For more information, you may contact SIM by calling Deivid Ribeiro at (508) 292-5163 or Jose Palma at (781) 244-3357, or contact MIRA by calling Frank Soults at (617) 350-5480 ext. 204.

New, But Faded Dream

2010-12-09T11:20:00.005-05:00

The passage of the DREAM Act by the House last night is a huge step forward for the immigration reform movement. But as we anxiously await the Senate’s vote, let’s take a look at the current Senate version.

Recent changes to the DREAM Act have more narrowly defined who is eligible under the already compromised bill. With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid doing his part to push the DREAM Act into vote, the modified bill has cut many benefits to secure the much needed third Republican vote; Senator Dick Durbin has committed to be the second Republican vote, but the third vote is yet to be filled. Activists for the DREAM Act, or DREAMers, are looking to Republican Senator from Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, who in 2007 had promised to push for the bill once it was amended to party demands. Well, the time has come! The latest version of the bill, S. 3992, has many changes, limitations, and provisions that will inevitably affect the many students seeking education and eligibility to serve in the military.

The DREAM Act would allow eligible undocumented youths who entered the country before their 16^th birthday, and who commit to 2 years of higher education or military service, to be eligible for permanent residency and to ultimately become naturalized citizens.

Compromise came at certain costs. According to the new DREAM Act, there will be a cap on eligibility at age 29. Previous versions of the bill had no age cap and then a cap at 35. Additionally, the waiting period as a “conditional non-immigrant” has been increased from six to ten years. This doesn’t even take into account the extra three years of waiting to become eligible for naturalization.

If that weren’t enough, the new bill also excludes DREAMers from benefiting from any health care reforms during their 10-year limbo. The new bill also redefines what qualifies as “good moral character”. According to past versions of the bill, a person was eligible if he had a clean record or had committed a crime that carried a maximum sentence of 1-year in prison, from the time the bill was enacted going forward. The new bill counts any crimes committed from the time he or she entered the country. Furthermore, S. 3992 would require the students to submit biometric data—finger prints, models, similarity scores—to be monitored by the nice people at Homeland Security. These restrictions serve to exclude more people and keep more people languishing at the bottom rungs of our society.

Like many in support of the DREAM Act, student activists view any sort of change in the current flawed immigrant laws as a victory. Unfortunately, the new DREAM Act comes with some fine print. And as of the morning of this blog entry, the Senate bill may change yet again, as leadership seeks to avoid a filibuster on the current bill and introduce the House version next week – so we might need to start squinting all over in a few days. No doubt, the need to pass the bill and enact it to benefit millions of students is a priority – we need reform and this is our first step that will change the lives of millions. But I hope that the DREAM Act isn’t being changed into someone else’s dream.

Posted by Sara Veliz, sveliz@miracoalition.org

DREAM Act Holiday Rally

2010-12-06T13:45:00.004-05:00

On Friday, December 3, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown hosted a Holiday Fundraising party at an upscale hotel in downtown Boston. The event, open to Brown supporters at $100 a ticket, promised food, drink and musical accompaniment. It also provided an opportunity for over 70 Boston-based DREAM Act supporters to gather in solidarity to encourage Senator Brown to vote YES on the DREAM Act.

United in holiday cheer, DREAMers braved the cold and marched for hours singing their requests for representation and support of the DREAM Act to Brown and his guests.

Sung to the tune of Jingle-Bells:

“Let us learn,
let us serve,
listen-up Scott Brown,
all we want is EDUCATION,
pass the DREAM Act, now!”

The DREAMers voices united in harmony, called Senator Brown to action. Let us learn, please Senator Brown, let us serve, vote YES on the DREAM Act!

The mood was convivial as supporters formed a picket line, singing, adorned with graduation caps, gowns and diplomas. Rally organizers distributed Christmas Wish-lists to event attendees, each list asking for Brown’s YES vote and his support for education so these students could follow their dreams: dreams to become doctors, nurses, teachers, social workers, and to economically contribute to this great nation.

Sung to the tune of We Wish you a Merry Christmas:

“We want higher education,
wanna serve in the military,
we want higher education,
so pass the DREAM Act!”

Senator Brown heard their voices on Friday, calling out in unison, for the DREAM Act.

Don’t let the momentum die. Please, add your voices to countless others by calling Senator Brown’s office this week and ask him for his YES vote on this monumental piece of legislation. It’s not too late to make a difference in the lives of countless, deserving individuals!

Be the difference, make the call. Let us continue to DREAM!

In DC: 202-224-4543
In MA: 617-565-3170

Gov. Patrick urges MA Senators to make the youths' DREAM a reality.

2010-12-01T12:56:00.004-05:00

The following is an excerpt from the State House News Service:

STATE CAPITOL BRIEFS – LUNCH EDITION – WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 2010
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

PATRICK LOBBIES BROWN, KERRY ON DREAM ACT

Gov. Deval Patrick, a supporter of in-state higher education tuition rates for eligible undocumented immigrants, has asked Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry to support the DREAM Act, saying in a letter that he anticipated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring it up for a vote this week. In a Nov. 24 letter to Brown and Kerry, Patrick said the act would establish a pathway for immigrant students to attain permanent residency if they came to the United States as children, are long-term residents, have good moral character, and attend an institution of higher learning or serve in the military for at least two years. "We have always been and will continue to be a nation that depends and thrives on the contributions of immigrants and refugees," Patrick wrote. "Our nation and our economy have been at their best when we have welcomed the ideas, work and commitment of our immigrants." Patrick said the DREAM Act would also authorize states to determine for themselves "whether educational benefits would be made available equally to all of the state's residents." Patrick wrote, "I believe that all immigrant young men and woman, who attend our high schools, earn their way into college, and commit to addressing their immigration status, should be afforded the same access to higher education as any other resident." On Nov. 16, Patrick told an audience gathered by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition at Boston's Tremont Temple that he would implement all 131 recommendations in a year-old administration report on issues facing immigrants. The report includes controversial plans to provide in-state tuition rates and driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. House Minority Leader Brad Jones said in-state tuition plans had failed before and would again, calling it a "ridiculous idea" and "a slap in the face to all Massachusetts taxpayers who expect state government to be focusing on stimulating the economy and putting people back to work."

All credit and rights belonging to:

State House News Service - State Capitol Briefs

The Refugee Journey

2010-11-30T11:49:00.006-05:00

Each refugee’s story, itself unique, is ripe with astonishing feats of survival, compassion, courage, and hope. War, unrest, upheaval: the terrible causes of flight from one’s home country. Families and survivors seek safety, protection, and refuge in a border country not their own. Through a complicated, interrelated series of charters, treaties, pacts, and obligations the international community unites—as best they can—to offer safety, protection, and refuge to those who have fled. The refugee remains resilient, fighting to avoid anonymity in the complex sea of legal processes, which are inextricably linked to politics. The refugee is confronted with an array of choices. To stay, to search out new livelihood, to begin a new, to return, to rebuild (should such an option exist), to reinvest? Or to risk and apply for resettlement? It is here, at this juncture, that the refugee journey truly begins.

The United States boasts one of the world’s foremost refugee resettlement programs, officially resettling the highest percentage of refugees worldwide each year. Under the direction of the U.S.State Department, resettlement agencies across the U.S. work tirelessly to provide basic needs for those who are tired, poor, weary, yearning to breathe free. Despite this position as a global leader in refugee resettlement, the US officially resettles, less than 1% of the world’s refugee population (approximately 80,000 per year of the 25 million refugees worldwide).

Frequently we romanticize the refugee resettlement experience. These individuals who had so little are now sharing in our abundance; the downtrodden are finally able to enjoy a western standard of living. It is here at this crossroads, that we as a society tend to close the book on the refugee journey. In our minds they are resettled, they are safe, they are free. When, in fact it is at this juncture, that one can say the refugee journey really begins.

For nearly 30 years the U.S. State Department allotted resettlement agencies $425 per person to provide all the basic services newly arrived refugees need within their first 30 days in the U.S. The list of necessary services includes: apartment deposit, lease and first month’s rent, new bed, basic apartment furnishings, one week of food, etc. Mercifully this meager sum was doubled during the Obama administration’s first year in office to $850 per person. However, resettlement agencies must still rely heavily on outside funding, in-kind donations, and other forms of charity to meet these first, most basic needs.

Refugees, per US resettlement standards, are then expected to achieve self-sufficiency within the first six months after arriving to the United States. Resettlement agencies work diligently to enroll refugees in the appropriate federal and state welfare programs that provide anywhere from 8 months to 3 years of services, depending on the family.. Many refugees arrive without English proficiency or basic literacy skills. Resettlement agencies must enroll these individuals in English classes, when free services are provided. Simultaneously, refugees must begin to look for work, enroll their children in school, learn a new culture and attempt to assimilate, while simultaneously begin to grapple with the mental and emotional challenges that have befallen them.

At the end of the refugee’s first six months in the United States their cases are relinquished from the resettlement agency’s caseload, due to a lack of funding for extended services. Some cities have post-six month agencies that rely solely on donors to provide more long-term services. In most cities no such services exist. It is here the refugee finds him or herself at a curious juncture: sink or swim? And, it is here that our society, if it has not already, completely forgets the refugee. And, it is here, if we watch closely, that we can see the truly inspirational aspects of the human spirit come to fruition. Refugees are resilient, they are fighters, and they are capable, courageous survivors. Political pawns cast about on the seas of international good intentions and then forgotten, washed up on a foreign shore. Yet refugees rise.

Other facts:

The U.S. resettles only certain groups of refugees through a quota system. The U.S. currently accepts refugees from Iraq, Burma (with the exception of the ethnic Rohinga), Somalia, DRC, Burundi, Cuba, and Bhutan. Others may apply if they have blood relatives already in the U.S. from another specified list of countries, under P-2 status (ex: Iran, Afghanistan, Sudan, etc). The US expects to begin resettling Darfurnians and the Rohinga before the close of 2011.

Current resettlement standards do not provide adequate mental health or basic health services. Due to the economic recession, even refugee’s Medicaid services have been cut, with some states eliminating access to dental care, and physical therapy—a serious issue for torture survivors. Mental health issues tend to present themselves after the initial shock of resettlement wears off. Studies have shown this occurs around month four or five. However, due to overworked, underfunded resettlement agencies and a lack of resources many of these potentially serious mental health concerns are unable to be addressed, leading to a plethora of issues for the refugee, their family and the community as time progresses.

Refugees are not subject to the five-year bar on U.S. welfare services that other immigrants are. However, they are subject to U.S. standards of monetary disbursements and requirements. Thus, like countless Americans living below the poverty line, these refugees are often unable to make their rent payments after the six-month resettlement services end. Refugees are ending up homeless as a result.

While the U.S. lays claim to being the host of the largest number of resettled refugees, it is important to note that we score far, far below the international average on services provided to the client upon arrival. Nations like Sweden, Denmark, and Canada boast the better resettlement services.

There is not a great deal of distinction between refugees and immigrants. Debate stems from the query as to whether or not this distinction should be made. Regardless, as it stands, refugees are also subject to discrimination and other issues inherent in immigrant communities.

Posted by Dani Grisby, intern extraordinaire. Contact her at grigsby@miracoalition.org.

DREAM Act Now!

2010-11-29T13:18:00.025-05:00

The DREAM has been deferred for more than a decade.

Now is the time to act.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act is federal legislation that would provide qualified undocumented US high school students to earn legal residency by serving in U.S. Armed Forces or attend college for at least two years.

While Massachusetts continues to deliberate whether to allow undocumented graduates of its high schools to pay the in-state rate at public colleges and universities, several other states have sparked the debate around immigrants and higher education. Georgia banned undocumented students from its most popular public universities this year. Conversely, California’s supreme court recently ruled unanimously to protect its in-state tuition policy (which 10 other states including Texas already have).

Once again, instead of making progress on educating this group of youths, Washington faces a gridlocked Congress on the issue. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 2.1m people nationwide, almost one million of whom are under 18, would be eligible to apply for conditional legal status under the DREAM Act. After being introduced in the past ten years, the DREAM was tied to the fate of other bills, procedures, and politics. It will finally be voted on this week as a stand-alone bill.

The DREAM Act will not only incentivize education and military service, both of which are smart ways to prepare talented and engaged new citizens, but also develop an already-motivated group of students to contribute to our economy. Most importantly, the DREAM Act will offer these students, who are American in every sense except for their legal status, a chance to learn, serve and add to America’s rich tradition of welcoming all those who work hard.

DREAMers have organized a week of action around the nation, prompting a chorus of support from businesses, faith communities, universities, and advocates – and a spectrum of editorial voices, including: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, The Economist, FOX News, Washington Post

Please join the Student Immigrant Movement, dozens of organizations and hundreds of DREAM Activists near the Boston Common 11/29: DREAM Act Rally: 3-6 PM @ 138 Tremont Street, Boston

For MA residents, call your legislators now: 1-866-996-5161

Thank all MA members of congress and Senator Kerry.
Urge Senator Brown to vote 'YES'
For other senators representing New England, visit: http://dreamact.info/advocacy/senators

The Shermeyateva 16 - A Call to Action

2010-11-27T11:52:00.011-05:00

“Because [they] slipped through and fell in a crack. Nobody likes staying in a crack because they're nothing. Nobody likes to be stuck in a crack.” –Frank Dixon, character from DreamWorks’ 2004 film, ‘Terminal’

In 2004, theater-goers were regaled with the fictional tale of Viktor Navorski—a man from “Krakoshia”, an artificial Eastern European state—whose country became engulfed in war while he was in transit to the US. Upon his arrival at US customs, his passport was invalidated, no longer recognized by the US government. He was forced to remain in the airport until his status could be determined; he could not return to his war-tattered nation, nor could he, legally, enter the USA.

Comedy, friendship, love and intrigue are artistically woven into Navorski’s story as he navigates airport life over the course of the film. An ever-resilient Navorski is finally able to return “home.” This humorous and intriguing story is intended to be a piece of mainstream entertainment, enjoyed and then forgotten. But the situation is all too real.

Mr. M and his travel companions have been living the fictional horror of Viktor Navorski for the past six months. These young men and women, desperate refugees from Somalia, paid $3,500 USD each to an individual who purported to have the means to assist them in seeking asylum via Moscow, Russia. They learned that they had been deceived upon arrival to Moscow’s Shermeyateva Dva airport, 45 minutes north of the city, in May of 2010. Russian customs officials discovered their falsified documents and their visas were summarily revoked. Unable to officially enter or exit the Russian Federation, their fates are left in the hands of charitable airport staff and non-governmental workers in Moscow’s unofficial humanitarian services sector. Food, water, and clothing needs are met through daily acts of charity. Their future remains unclear, and their hope dwindles.

In Mr. M’s own words:

“We feel stress and we need a big help. . .it’s taking a long time, you understand? Being in an airport for months? I cannot describe it. It hurts so much to be in this place but we don’t have a choice . . . we don’t feel safe and worry for the future. All we ask is when will we be out of here? Please, please try to help us.”

Mr. M and his travel companions (deemed the Shermeyateva 16) are not the first refugees to fall victim to Russia’s inadequate asylum system, forced to remain captive within its borders. Refugees and other forced migrants have sought refuge in or via Russia in great numbers since the fall of the Soviet Union. Seen as a veritable portal to the west, Moscow’s emerging economy and seeming openness (Soviet détente established ‘friendship universities,’ and recruited attendees from developing nations in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond) has captured the attention of the desperate asylum seekers from far abroad.

The first such noted case of airport detainees was documented in the Moscow Times in 1992. A group of over sixty refugees were held in a Moscow airport for months before finally being returned to their country of transit.

International conventions, to which Russia freely submits, set forward standard operating procedures to ensure the rights of forced migrants like Mr. M. The UN’s 1951 Refugee Convention recommends that governments “continue to receive refugees in their territories and that they act in concert in a true spirit of international cooperation in order that these refugees may find asylum and the possibility of resettlement.” What’s more, disallowing the Shermeyateva 16 access to the court system is, too, in direct violation of international standards set forward in the 1951 Convention.

This real-life drama, grimly mirroring fabricated situational comedy, unfolds day by unchanging day for these refugees. How it plays out depends very much on the tenacity of the cast of characters involved. Global advocates must step-up, forgive the pun, to the international stage. Decision makers, law enforcers, and politicians must unite in political prowess on behalf of the Shermeyateva 16.

Join us in asking Amnesty International to host a worldwide letter writing campaign to grant these individuals equitable access to asylum proceedings. Write or call Amnesty International USA and offer your support of this campaign: (212) 807-8400 or submit the following email to: aimember@aiusa.org and please cc: ellenp@alum.dartmouth.org.

Dear Amnesty International USA:

Please take up the case of the Shermeyateva 16 as a special focus case. This group of 16 refugees have been unofficially detained in Moscow’s Shermeyateva Dva airport for the past six months without access to legal support of any official asylum proceedings. We urge you to allow us to unite and take action under Amnesty’s esteemed reputation, in order to reach a broader global support network and assist in ensuring these refugees are afforded their full, deserved human rights.

For more information, please contact Danielle J. Grigsby, Shermeyateva 16 Coordinator, at grigsbyd@bc.edu or 801-710-7148.

Respectfully,

Your Name Here

Thanksgiving: an enduring immigrant tradition

2010-11-24T15:31:00.009-05:00

On November 16th, MIRA continued the tradition of celebrating the immigrant family at it's 7th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. Thanksgiving first began when a group of some of the first immigrant settlers in America celebrated their harvest and the generosity of the native peoples. History since that idealized episode has been fraught with tensions between nativists and immigrants who believe in the the American Dream. But time and time again, as families gather around the table at the end of Fall, we remember the opportunities and rights this country promises its citizens. We also remember those who have joined our American family simply through a desire to succeed and be free, and whose inclusion was not based on race, ethnicity, origin or even heritage.

MIRA’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon recalls that promise to newcomers in our midst who continue to expand America’s economic pie, enrich communities, and enliven our democracy. Represented by over 300 MIRA members, advocates, policymakers, religious leaders and service providers, the luncheon demonstrated the cultivation of a new life in this abundant land and the renewal of the American promise as a place of opportunity, justice, and refuge.

This year’s Thanksgiving Luncheon specially recognized the refugee journey, highlighting the accomplishments of the MAA Coalition of MA and the MA Haitian TPS consortium who have helped settle refugees from many tumultuous corners of the globe. Refugees who are given the resettlement resources and who successfully integrate into our society provide a rich example of the contributions immigrants make to Massachusetts and the nation. Regardless of the circumstances from which families and individuals emigrate, and the barriers they face as newcomers, they share a common destiny as part of America’s future, and common goals to work hard, provide for their families, and contribute to society.

As the nation pauses to celebrate family and recount blessings, let’s remember the immigrant story that began Thanksgiving. We thank immigrants for their determination to survive. We thank immigrants for their entrepreneurial skills and imaginations. We thank immigrants for the businesses and civic spaces they create. We thank immigrants for their wonderful examples of family devotion and sacrifices. We thank immigrants for giving us the thanksgiving spirit.

Gov. Patrick's Speech, courtesy of State House News Service:

Press Clips from the event: Boston Globe, MassLive, State House News

USCIS Hikes Fees...again

2010-11-24T15:02:00.001-05:00

Once again, USCIS is raising its fees effective Tuesday, November 23rd. The fee increases - which will exclude the N-400, Application for Naturalization - will average out to 10% across the board, and even the biometrics fee will go up from $5 to $85. In addition, USCIS will finally have a form for fee waiver requests (Form I-912). USCIS's new fee schedule as well as a Question and Answer Fact Sheet are available on their website.

Posted by Sarang Sekhavat, Federal Policy Director

Bigotry goes mobile

2010-11-22T17:47:00.004-05:00

Apple approved a new iPhone application for mobile bigotry. NumbersUSA, founded by white supremacist John Tanton, is notorious for starting the fire and fanning the flames of anti-immigrant sentiments.

The new NumbersUSA app shows "news" and action alerts that consistently labels children as anchor babies; undocumented immigrant youth as criminal aliens; single Latino mothers as "welfare queens."

Apple exercises a policy which screens out offensive applications, including a rejecting a health care reform app for being too political, but has somehow let this app slip.
Tell Apple that "applications that support anti-immigrant fervor have no place in the iTunes Store, and providing a platform for bigotry is never okay."

Sign the petition via change.org, or call Apple's public relations line at 408-974-2042.

Immigrants Create Jobs

2010-11-12T10:30:00.013-05:00

Despite the political salience of blaming immigrants for job losses in America, economists, scholars and journalists have conclude quite the opposite. Immigrants are creating jobs at a rate higher than the native-born, from small businesses to some of the most innovative high-tech companies. In other words, immigrants fuel wealth creation from Main Street to Wall Street.

Globally speaking, a new study indicate that the relationship between globalization, outsourcing, and migrant labor is complex. But the presence of immigrants still contribute to an overall net gain in American labor market.

Also, other findings show:

Massachusetts’s 18,081 Asian-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $5.0 billion and employed 37,193 people in 2002, the last year for which data is available.

The state’s 15,933 Latino-owned businesses had sales and receipts of $2.1 billion and employed 15,319 people in 2002 (U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners)

According to the National Venture Capital Association, bellwether American companies such as eBay, Intel, and Google were founded by immigrants, and employ thousands of workers and producing billions of dollars in profit. (e.g. Intel Corporation alone brought in 38.8 billion, and employed 99,900 in 2005)

Encouraging immigrant entrepreneurship will not only grow our domestic economy but also boost US competitiveness and emerge stronger in the post-recession global economy.

Next week, a group of stakeholders will meet to discuss this exciting topic at Babson College, a leading business school in examining the role of immigrants in fueling entrepreneurship and economic development.

Immigrant Entrepreneurship Symposium - 11/17

STATEWIDE CONFERENCE ON IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

A Collaboration of

The Immigrant Learning Center and Babson College

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Executive Conference Center

Babson College, Wellesley, MA

Entrepreneurs = Wealth and Job Creation

Immigrants = Jet Fuel for Entrepreneurship in Massachusetts

Massachusetts immigrants are a proven driving force for entrepreneurship from neighborhood revitalization to increasing numbers of transnational businesses to innovation in science and engineering. Come learn from and network with immigrant entrepreneurs, researchers and experts from the field. They will present data, experiences, ideas and recommendations to accelerate immigrant entrepreneurship for economic and job growth in the Commonwealth.

Click here to see agenda and speakers

Click here to register on line

Immigrant Voters Speak Loud and Clear

2010-11-10T14:34:00.006-05:00

The results from the pivotal 2010 midterm elections strongly suggests that immigrant voters in Massachusetts and across the nation raised their voices decisively against political stances that threaten the rights and well-being of the foreign-born.

In Massachusetts, Boston Globe figures suggest that immigrant voters rewarded Governor Deval Patrick's strong policies on immigrant integration — from his defense of health insurance for legal immigrants, to his commissioning of the New Americans Agenda — by bolstering his strong victory in the ten most populous cities in the state, which came out also have the highest immigrant residency.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric may have also played a part in Republican State Representative Jeff Perry's loss to Democrat William Keating in the race to become Congressman in the 10th District. Less than a year ago, the 10th District swung a decisive 20 points ahead in favor of Republican Scott Brown in the U.S. Senate race. But unlike Brown, whose position on immigration was very low-key before his statewide election, Representative Perry has vociferously sponsored anti-immigrant legislation in the State House year after year, going so far this political season as to call for the repeal of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees citizenship for everyone born on U.S. soil. As WBUR reports, Perry's electoral hopes were finally crushed last night when results arrived from Quincy, which boasts a foreign-born population of over 25 percent, the heaviest in the district. Perry lost Quincy by over 60 percent of the vote.

Similar effects can be seen across the nation, such as in the bitterly fought Nevada Senate race. Despite early prognostications, the seat was recaptured handily by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has worked hard for comprehensive immigration reform legislation. His opponent, Sharon Angle, ran anti-immigrant ads that raised protests from statewide Latino organizations, and she was perceived to be the prime beneficiary of a notorious media campaign to suppress the Latino vote. As Edward Schumacher-Matos writes in the Washington Post, "The Latino vote came out --- 12 percent of the vote -- and Reid received an extraordinary 90 percent of it, according to estimates by Latino Decisions, the only poll that specifically tracked Latinos. Reid would have lost handily to Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle without that lopsided support."

Similar results can be seen across the nation, from the California Governor's race — which may have hinged on the losing candidate's firing of her undocumented-immigrant maid — to state house races in Maryland — where Latino candidates made impressive inroads.

Immigrant candidates also made history from California, to South Carolina, to Massachusetts. Two sons of Chinese immigrants, Donald Wong (R-Saugus) and Tackey Chan (D-Quincy) became the first Asian-Americans elected to the MA House of Representatives.

Immigrant advocates including MIRA celebrated these triumphs and also extended congratulations to ALL newly elected officials. They also recognize the challenges ahead in advancing pro-immigrant policies while defending immigrants from being political scapegoats while the nation continues to recover from the recession.

Puerto-Rico Birth Certificates Update

2010-11-01T15:08:00.007-04:00

New Law:

Everyone born in Puerto Rico before July 1, 2010 will need a new birth certificate, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 30, 2010. (Extended from September 30) If you have a birth certificate from Puerto Rico you will need to apply for a new one either online or by mail. The application is available in both Spanish and English.

Click here for instructions in English on how to apply for a new Puerto Rico birth certificate. (Courtesy of Children's Defense Fund of New York)

Haga clic aqui para los instrucciones en Espanol sobre como solicitar el nuevo certificado de nacimiento de Puerto Rico (Click here for instructions in Spanish on how to apply for a new Puerto Rico birth certificate).

Get Out the (New American) Vote!

2010-10-27T17:11:00.006-04:00

After Halloween, voters will head to the polls on November 2 to decide on this much anticipated midterm elections. It has been an extremely contentious campaign season in federal, state, and local levels. Unfortunately, horrifyingly xenophobic and anti-immigrant stances have become politically expedient strategies during these anxious economic times.

At the same time, over twelve percent of registered voters in Massachusetts are immigrants or children or immigrants. It is vitally important for this group to come out to vote to show a collective voice in defense of immigrant rights and change the tone of the public debate around immigration, and push for much-needed reform and expansion of integration policies.

MIRA has just embarked on the largest Get Out the Vote drive in its history. Over 2,500 newly sworn-in citizens have been registered by MIRA volunteers, who have also called 8,000 New American voters about the voting process.

Non-partisan voter’s guides for the governor’s race and all ten US congressional races are available on our website. We also urge voters to vote ‘no’ on all three ballot questions to protect vital public services that affects affordable housing, addiction prevention services, health care, and education.

In the next four days, we will have callers who speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole, Cantonese and Russian, but we also want you there too! Please contact Filipe, at 617-350-5480 ext. 200 or fzamborlini@miracoalition.org to sign up to volunteer.

See you at the polls!

National Immigrant Integration Conference

2010-07-22T12:13:00.009-04:00

More than 300 policymakers, practitioners, and experts and are expected to gather at the National Immigrant Integration Conference in Boston this year.

NIIC will address four critical areas: naturalization, economic growth, host communities, and justice and civil rights. Over 20 strategy sessions will cover topics include: education, naturalization, fundraising, civic engagement, workforce development, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and state and local integration initiatives.

Register now!

The Partnership for New Americans selected Boston because of the rich diversity of immigrant communities and the long history of progressive integration policies in the state. The breadth and depth of Massachusetts' immigrant community, the 7th largest overall immigrant population in the nation, provides a unique backdrop for inclusion and integration discussions as it represents one of the nation's most diverse populations. Governor Patrick will offer his New American Agenda as one example of uniting forces across all sectors to foster immigrant integration.

Why Attend?

Best Practices
How to increase naturalization
Skills development
Program models and systems
Relate practice and policy development
Influence future federal integration initiatives
Emerging policies
Open a dialog with Funders
Emerging trends
DHS and other Federal Leadership
Innovative workshops
Immigration Integration leaders
Inspiring Speakers
Current Research

Visit www.integrationconference.org for registration and details

PRESS ADVISORY: Press Conference Protests Arizona Governor's Visit, Praises Admin. Lawsuitng

2010-07-07T10:10:00.003-04:00

Communities to Protest Arizona Gov.

at National Governor’s Association Meeting

MIRA joins press conference to protest Gov. Brewer-- and applaud federal suit against Arizona

BOSTON — At 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, community activists will hold a press conference in front of the Sheraton Hotel, the site of this weekend’s annual meeting of the National Governor’s Association. Their message: We will vigorously challenge Arizona law SB1070 and all other similar anti-immigrant bills being considered around the country.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the bill that launched a nationwide anti-immigrant surge, will be attending the annual National Governor’s Association meeting in Boston at the end of this week. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) joins with the ANSWER Coalition and dozens of other community groups on the East Coast to protest at that meeting. The protest is gathering on Saturday, July 10 at 12 noon at Copley Square.

"The Arizona law usurps federal authority and practically mandates racial profiling, threatening the civil rights of every Hispanic resident and person of color in Arizona," said Franklin Soults, Communications Director at MIRA. "We at MIRA applaud the Obama administration for announcing a federal lawsuit against the state, but it is not enough. We, the people, must raise our voices too. Everyone who treasures this nation's diversity should stand up and let Governor Jan Brewer hear their outrage, wherever she travels."

WHO:

Speakers at the July 7 press conference will include:

The Most Rev. Bishop Felipe Teixeira, Diocese of St. Francis of Assisi, CCA
Franklin Soults, Communications Director, Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition
Dimple Rana, Deported Diaspora
Jennifer Zaldana, ANSWER Coalition
Dorotea Manuela, Boston May Day Committee
Susan Church, National Lawyers Guild-Massachusetts

WHAT:

Press conference to discuss protests against Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's Boston appearance at the National Governor's Association meeting on Saturday, July 10.

WHERE:

In front of the Sheraton Hotel

39 Dalton Street (at Belvidere Street)

Boston, MA

WHEN:

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

12:15 p.m.

Puerto-Rico born Citizens must Obtain New Birth Certificates

2010-07-02T10:36:00.004-04:00

In December 2009 the government of Puerto Rico enacted Law 191 of 2009. This law will invalidate all Puerto Rico birth certificates issued before July 1, 2010 and require Puerto Rico-born citizens to obtain new birth certificates. Due to the high number of birth certificate copies that each Puerto Rico born citizen holds many are left “vulnerable to identity theft, ruined credit, stolen Social Security benefits, and increased ‘random’ security checks at airports…”

Since Puerto Rico-born citizens are required only have proof of citizenship, not passports, when traveling between Puerto Rico and the United States, birth certificates serve as one of the most common forms of proof of citizenship. Birth certificates also serve as proof of citizenship for Puerto-Rico born citizens seeking to apply for passports, driver’s licenses, and state federal benefits, such as Social Security. As of September 30th 2010 (due to an extension), the new law requires that Puerto-Rico born citizens present the new birth certificate in order to obtain a passport or a driver’s license, or obtain public benefits. Additionally, if Puerto-Rico born citizens use their birth certificate as their proof of citizenship when traveling between Puerto Rico and the United States they must present the new birth certificate starting September 30, 2010.

New birth certificates will not be issued by, or sent from, the Puerto Rican government until July 1, 2010. Those living in the United States can apply for a new birth certificates online or by mail. They may either go online at anytime to www.pr.gov and fill out the form then upload the required identity documents and pay the $5 fee by credit card or they may print and fill out a Birth Certificate Application form and submit it by mail on or after July 1, 2010.

The application form can be downloaded at: www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates and www.prfaa.com/certificadosdenacimiento

PRESS STATEMENT: Patrick Tries to Resuscitate Immigrant Health Care

2010-06-30T16:32:00.001-04:00

With State House approval plan would save "Bridge" for 6 months

BOSTON -- This afternoon Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick held a press conference to discuss his signature of the Massachusetts state budget for fiscal 2011, which begins tomorrow. Barring the increasingly unlikely approval of FMAP funding, this budget would eliminate health care funding for nearly 30,000 legal, tax-paying Massachusetts immigrants at the end of August. In response, Governor Patrick also announced he was filing an amendment letter with the legislature, asking for their permission to allow Bridge to continue operating if funds can be found. Through some creative cost savings and the allocation of excess cigarette tax revenues, the governor then calculates that the program could continue for at least six months, or until the end of December.

"We at MIRA join all the other groups in the ACT Coalition to commend Governor Patrick for his speedy and creative response to this crisis," said Nicole Tambouret, State Policy Director at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)."The governor has come up with the plan and the funds; now the legislature needs to act quickly to pass the proposed bill, which will give tens of thousands of hard-working, tax paying immigrants a chance to breathe easier as we all work to craft a permanent solution to this crisis."

The Bridge program was created last year as a temporary, low-cost solution to the plight of these 30,000 Massachusetts immigrants, comprised largely of those who've received their Permanent Legal Residency status ("green cards") less than five years ago. Last June, the State House barred this class of immigrants from the Commonwealth Care program, citing federal law which prohibits the group from receiving reimbursement for Medicaid funding. The crisis led the governor to work with the legislature to devise Commonwealth Care Bridge, which began enrolling immigrants at the end of last summer.

"The governor and his administration seem to agree with immigrants and their allies that the Bridge program is not a permanent solution to the plight of these immigrants," Tambouret continued."But we all need the legislature to approve his plan to continue the program through the summer and fall. Not only will it provide six extra months of essential coverage, it also allows us all time to find a way to extend the program until that day when every Massachusetts resident can receive the quality, affordable health care they deserve, no matter where they're from."

Final State Budget eliminates health-care program to low-income immigrants

2010-06-24T15:55:00.005-04:00

In today's Boston Globe, there is a featured article about the new budget plan that was finalized last night. In many ways, the new budget is a step forward for the Massachusetts immigrant community. Some of the more extreme proposals of the new amendment did not pass, such as the hotline to anonymously report suspected illegal immigrants. However, the new budget poses other hardships for the immigrant community. With the new budget, making proof of legal residency for public benefits is now the law. This new law will be a waste of money, since each agency already has methods of checking the residency status of each person they see. Another negative change is the elimination of "the CommonwealthCare Bridge program, which provides state-subsidized health insurance for almost 30,000 legal immigrants". By doing this, as the MIRA press statement explains, "lawmakers have sent a message of distrust...The erosion is then greatly compounded by the elimination of state-sponsored health care for nearly 30,000 legal, taxpaying residents, who have been targeted merely for being foreign born".
This budget is neither a complete victory nor a complete defeat for the immigrant community. Responses to the budget will come up in the next few days as the heated debate over immigration goes on.

Click here to read MIRA's press statement.

MIRA Bulletin: June 8, 2010

2010-06-24T11:22:00.004-04:00

Click here to read our latest bulletin. This bulletin covers the latest events happening within our organization and around the greater Boston community, including the Give Liberty a Hand event on June 1.

Boston City Council President Mike Ross, Former Governor Michael Dukakis, Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun, and MIRA Executive Director Eva Millona at Give Liberty a Hand 2010

Greater Boston Covers Immigration

2010-05-27T14:03:00.002-04:00

Greater Boston Cvers Immigraiton
Originally uploaded by MIRAcoalition

A press conference was held in the State House on May 26th, in opposition to the amendments proposed in the state budget. WBGH covered the conference and invited MIRA Coalition's Executive Director to participate. Watch the clip here:

Mass Senate Seeks a New Scapegoat

2010-05-25T16:20:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow, the State Senate of Massachusetts will consider no fewer than eight budget amendments that sacrifice taxpayers’ money and citizens rights’ in an effort to trap our culture’s latest hobgoblin, the undocumented immigrant who somehow defrauds the government while also hiding from it.

The centerpiece of this deluded quest is a revival of Representative Jeff Perry’s amendment to require all state agencies to check the immigration status of applicants for benefits. Logic would suggest that few if any undocumented immigrants would dare file those applications, and indeed, a study of a similar law passed in Colorado found that the state government spent over $2 million implementing an immigration-verification system – a system that saved the state absolutely no money whatsoever. Furthermore, this verification system could potentially deny benefits to citizens who lacked a driver’s license or state I.D. (a birth certificate and passport aren’t acceptable), including elderly residents seeking basic health-related services.

All of the eight amendments are likewise rife with potentially harmful side-effects to U.S.-born citizens. All of them certainly strain the fabric of one of the most diverse states in the union. And all of them usurp the authority of the federal government without providing any revenues to cover the cost of this usurpation. Even if one or two of the amendments are worthy of serious debate, serious debate is exactly what they will not receive in their current incarnation as budget amendments — legislating-by-budget is a classic tactic to avoid legislating by reason.

Given the way these amendments seek to demonize the undocumented and given the way they have been introduced, it’s difficult not to presume that they are grandstanding measures — a hair’s breadth from sheer demagoguery. In short, they are being introduced on the supposition that attacking a hobgoblin will play well to our general electorate. We can only hope that the electorate known as the Massachusetts State Senate sees through this ruse first, and it will send all of these amendments down to defeat.

Education Opportunity Hearing Wednesday!

2010-01-25T14:27:00.001-05:00

The Education Opportunity Act has a public hearing this Wednesday at 1pm in room B-2 of the Statehouse. This common sense piece of legislation has been passed in 10 states, including Texas, Kansas, Utah, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, New Mexico, and Nebraska, and has the potential to generate an additional $2.5 million for the Commonwealth. So please come out and ensure that your voice is heard on this important piece of legislation, and help kids fulfill their own American dream!

Governor Patrick unveils the New Americans Agenda

2009-11-18T15:55:00.001-05:00

Governor Patrick (2), originally uploaded by MIRAcoalition.

On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, Governor Deval Patrick unveiled the New Americans Agenda (NAA) at MIRA's annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. With 131 recommendations, the NAA is the most comprehensive immigrant-integration agenda produced in the nation. The Governor is now engaging state offices in a 90-day review of its recommendations, which were produced by the Governor's Advisory Council for Refugees and Immigrants, in collaboration with the Office of Refugees and Immigrants and MIRA.

2009-11-10T15:35:00.005-05:00

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Detained immigrant’s death leaves far-reaching questions - The Boston Globe

2009-10-30T11:45:00.001-04:00

Detained immigrant’s death leaves far-reaching questions - The Boston Globe

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PRESS STATEMENT: Immigrant Detainee Dies at Mass. Hospital

2009-10-21T17:17:00.000-04:00

A Tragic Reminder that Detention System Needs Reform

BOSTON -- On Monday, October 19, Pedro Juan Tavarez, a 49-year-old native of the Dominican Republic in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, died at Women and Bringham's Hospital in Boston.

ICE was holding Tavarez on immigration violations at The Suffolk County House of Corrections, which transferred him to Brigham and Women's after the correction facility's medical staff suggested possible pneumonia. The hospital was treating Tavarez for heart and respiratory conditions when he died, but the official cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner.

"Mr. Tavarez's death is a tragedy," said Eva Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). "We don't yet know if his passing could have been avoided. But we do know that the current immigration-detention system relies on a decentralized network of local jails that, in many respects, is simply inhumane. It treats the civil infraction of 'immigration violation' like a criminal offense, and it does not adequately protect the health of its most vulnerable detainees."

MIRA applauds the Obama Administration's acknowledgment of the seriousness of the problem. In August, ICE announced plans to "move away from a jail-oriented approach to a system wholly designed for and based on ICE's civil detention authorities." (See the ICE fact sheet). But the process won't be complete for three to five years, and the gravity of this delay was recognized earlier this month in a report by Dora B. Schriro, then ICE's Office of Detention Policy and Planning Director, who wrote a top-to-bottom appraisal of the system before quitting to become New York City's correction commissioner. As The New York Times wrote, the report "calls for prompt attention to individual complaints about a lack of medical care." In an interview with the Times, Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano could only promise "to implement a system to better place people with medical or mental health needs" within six months.

"Six months is not good enough," said Millona. "Five years is far worse. The detention system demands immediate reform because too often its flaws have led to fatal consequences. We ask Governor Patrick, Massachusetts county authorities, and the individual detention facilities to start implementing reforms now. For too many immigrant detainees -- many of whom are hardworking family members who have broken no criminal laws -- this is truly a life and death issue."

Commonwealth Care Bridge Resources

2009-10-02T18:21:00.004-04:00

Today marks the second day of Commonwealth Care Bridge in the Greater Boston area. To keep up to date on developments in the program, please check MIRA's state health care website frequently.

Below are some resources that are currently available:

List of community health center's currently in the CommCare Bridge Greater Boston network and a spanish-language version of CeltiCare Explanation of Coverage for new members.

Contact information for CeltiCare, including a number exclusively for transition in care issues.

Frequently asked questions about the CommCare Bridge program, including a schedule of benefits and co-pays.

MIRA will continue to provide updates on its website and blog as we learn more. For a recent press statement from MIRA on the CommCare Bridge program, please click here.

PRESS STATEMENT: MIRA Applauds End of "Immigrant Hunt" Agreement in Mass. Municipalities

2009-10-02T17:37:00.002-04:00

Framingham and Barnstable end Immigration Enforcement Deals

BOSTON-- In a major victory for immigrants and public safety advocates, all Massachusetts municipalities have now have ended participation in the highly criticized program that allows local law enforcers to act like federal immigration agents. This morning, the Boston Globe reported that the two remaining Massachusetts localities in the program, Barnstable and Framingham, have canceled their agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 287(g), as the program is known.

The program -- "which enlists local law-enforcement agencies to hunt illegal immigrants," as a recent New York Times editorial characterized it -- has been criticized by the Government Accounting Office and deplored by independent reports for decreasing trust in the police and increasing the potential for racial profiling. The Police Foundation, a nonprofit research organization, found in an April report that the program strained budgets and undermined efforts at community policing. As one police chief told the report's authors, "How can you police a community that will not talk to you?"

"We applaud the Framingham Police Department and The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office for ending their 287(g) accords," said Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). "It will go a long way toward restoring trust in the police among immigrant communities, thereby making all our towns and cities safer and more peaceful."

The only remaining 287(g) accord in the state is with the Department of Correction. "We recognized the importance of detaining dangerous criminals and punishing their illegal behavior to the full extent of the law," Millona continued. "But 287(g) only detracts the police from this primary mission. In fact, its counterproductive effects work against the police's ultimate function-- to serve and protect."

PRESS STATEMENT: "CommCare Bridge" Shaky on Eve of Opening

2009-10-02T17:34:00.002-04:00

BOSTON-- The new plan to provide health coverage for 31,000 immigrants rolls out in the Greater Boston area tomorrow. After cutting recent green-card recipients and other legal immigrants from Commonwealth Care coverage in the FY2010 budget, the state legislature compromised with the Patrick Administration and allocated $40 million -- less than one-third the cost of full CommCare coverage -- for a new managed-care plan, run by CeltiCare. On the eve of the roll out of the new plan, dubbed "CommCare Bridge," numerous questions and concerns remain about the bridge's security.

"We appreciate the efforts and commitment of the administration and CeltiCare to make the best of a bad situation," said Eva A. Millona, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). "But it remains a bad situation.We are concerned about access to affordable and comprehensive health care for these hard-working, tax-paying Massachusetts residents who were singled out for the cuts. In particular, we worry about the adequacy of CommCare Bridge's network of providers, as well as the plan's increased out-of-pocket expenses and its cap on future enrollment."

Currently, all but a small percentage of Boston's 11,500 CommCare Bridge members will need to find new health care providers, since the program's network does not currently include many institutions that have historically served this population, such as Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance. Furthermore, with premium costs equal to those in full Commonwealth Care and some higher co-pays, the CommCare Bridge recipients will pay more for less.

"Until we see full restoration of Commonwealth Care coverage for these Massachusetts taxpayers," Millona continued, "we cannot expect them to receive adequate health care. We look forward to working with the Governor and the legislature to restore these important funds."

The plan is scheduled to roll out in Northern and Southern Massachusetts on November 1, and in Central and Western MA on December 1 (see list of service areas and rollout dates). A recent Boston Globe poll found that 43% of MA residents support full restoration of coverage in Commonwealth Care for the population, compared to 28% who felt coverage should remain as it is and 19% who felt coverage should be eliminated entirely.

MIRA Bulletin September 18, 2009

2009-09-28T14:42:00.013-04:00

MIRA Bulletin

Dear MIRA Members and Supporters,

Yesterday MIRA joined SEIU 615, the Dominican Development Center, the Human Rights Campaign, the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers (MAPS) and many other organizations at a press conference in front of Faneuil Hall to celebrate Citizenship Day and announce a citizenship clinic tomorrow at SEIU's offices in downtown Boston (see below for more details).

I know you understand the importance of obtaining citizenship at this historical juncture, and I hope you received word of this clinic from us or one of the 14 organizations with whom we've partnered on this drive, part of a nationwide effort spearheaded by NALEO. At this difficult economic time, when the 2007 increase in citizenship application fees has made the process harder than ever, it is understandable that citizenship applications in Massachusetts have fallen to a record low (see the Boston Globe story). And yet we are happy to say we have received a tremendous response from this initiative, with dozens of phone calls here, at Centro Latino, at SEIU 615, and at NALEO's citizenship program, "Ya Es Hora" (Now's the Time).

We are certain that this response reflects a feeling among immigrants and advocates that now is indeed the time; we can wait no longer for change. It's this feeling that has powered over two dozen similar drives across the country, and, as the letter reprinted below explains, it's also the feeling that has driven Congressman Luis Gutierrez to start the process of filing his own progressive bill for comprehensive immigration reform. We know we can count on you to help us in the fight to make this time an hour of victory. As always, you have my deepest thanks.

Sincerely,

Eva A. Millona
Executive Director

Federal Updates

Letter from Washington

Below is a portion of an e-mail received late today from Rich Stolz of ReformImmigrationFORAmerica.org :

We really shouldn't wait any longer to introduce a progressive, comprehensive immigration reform bill,' Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) told hundreds of immigrants and their allies at a Citizenship Day event in Washington, DC yesterday as he answered a call for leadership from immigration advocates. Representative Gutierrez accepted the challenge and announced his intention to introduce his own progressive comprehensive immigration reform bill, one that will unify the broader immigrant community, this fall.

A wide range of events took place in Washington, DC and across the nation this week around Citizenship Day, a chance for the nation to reflect on and appreciate the value of citizenship. A broad coalition of immigrant and allied groups gathered in DC under the banner of Unity in Movement. Throughout the rest of the month, Ya Es Hora and other groups will be holding citizenship workshops and other events, and on September 16, local leaders celebrated at hundreds of festivals across the nation by promoting the Campaign's cell phone action network (text justicia [Spanish] or justice [English] to 69866 to join).

This celebration and its call for leadership came the day after the Senate Finance Committee released its healthcare bill, which drew sharp criticism from immigration advocates. As Janet Murgia, head of NCLR said, 'Left unaddressed, the plan has the potential to drive up costs, leave people uncovered, and threaten public health.' On Wednesday night, President Obama attempted to address these concerns at the CHCI Annual Awards Gala. Although the President assured the audience of his commitment to coverage for legal immigrants, advocates remain concerned about how the details of the policy could impact both immigrants and citizens. The president also re-stated that his plan would not cover undocumented immigrants. The bill that is drawing everyone's ire is coming up for a vote in the Senate Finance Committee early next week.

This afternoon, Senior White House staff discussed immigration and health care issues with hundreds of immigration advocates on a conference call. National and local advocates used the opportunity to voice their concerns and to question the White House verification of status proposals in any health care bill, the impact of health reform proposals on access to health care for mixed status families, and other pressing concerns in immigrant communities."
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The Census Meets the Press

The Ethnic News Wire held an event for ethnic media on the U.S. Census on Thursday. The event featured a panel of Census staff, including Associate Director Marilia Matos, taking questions from ethnic media journalists about the census and media outreach plans. The panel noted that the media buys for the upcoming census ad campaign will be over 50% ethnic media, the highest ever percentage.

In addition the panel emphasized the security of the census, noting that all census employees take a lifetime oath of confidentiality, violations of which are punishable by fines and imprisonment. The staff also discussed language access, confirming that the census will be available in five languages with instructions available in 59 additional languages. The census media campaign will be launched in January and census forms will be mailed in March. For more information about the census efforts please contact Frank Soults at 617-350-5480 ext. 204, or fsoults@miracoalition.org.

MIRA Messages

Citizenship Clinic

Join MIRA and SEIU at upcoming citizenship drive in Boston. We will be helping eligible immigrants apply for citizenship. SEIU 615 and MIRA kicked-off the drives with a press conference yesterday, on National Citizenship Day. (See the story in the Portuguese and English newspaper O Jornal)

Citizenship Clinic: September 19, 10am-1pm. SEIU 615, 26 West Street, Boston MA. See here for more information.
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Boston Mayoral Forums 2009

Join MIRA and other Boston Residents at the Boston Mayoral and City Councilors at Large Forums. This is your chance to ask candidates your questions!

Forum 1
City Councilors At Large
Tuesday October 13, 2009
6:30-8 pm
UMass-Boston, Boston

Forum 2
Mayoral Candidates
Tuesday October 27, 2009
6:30-8 pm
Location TBA

Thanksgiving Luncheon

Come join us on Tuesday, November 17th for MIRA's annual Thanksgiving Luncheon in the Great Hall of the State House. This event brings together those who cherish their family's immigrant story to Celebrate the Immigrant Family. It is a moment to reflect on and thank immigrants for their sacrifices in order to realize their American Dream.

For sponsorship opportunities or additional information, please contact Kirsten Dees, Development Associate at 617.350.5480 x208 or email dees@miracoalition.org

State Updates

Details on New Health Care Plan to Cover 31,000 Immigrants

The Patrick administration announced plans in early September for the $40 million allocated to coverage for 31,000 immigrants under the "Aliens with Special Status" (AWSS) category in MassHealth who lost eligibility for Commonwealth Care as of September 1, 2009. Under the new plan, CeltiCare, a new managed care organization (MCO), will provide coverage to all 31,000 immigrants impacted by the cuts, beginning on October 1 in Greater Boston, November 1 in Northern and Southern Mass., and December 1 in Central and Western Mass. More details are available now about the plan, which offers significantly less comprehensive coverage than full Commonwealth Care. Among the differences are no dental, vision, hospice, or long-term care; increased co-pays; and serious questions about CeltiCare's provider networks in Boston and across the state. To stay updated on details of the plan as they become available, check MIRA's state health care website here. Those impacted by the cuts should have received letters last week. Click here for a list of the benefits and co-pays under the new plan. MIRA is committed to full restoration of Commonwealth Care coverage in next year's budget and believes strongly that the new plan is a temporary and imperfect solution. If you have any questions, please contact Toby Guevin at MIRA at 617-350-5480 x216 or tguevin@miracoalition.org.

Member to Member

March and Rally for Jobs

Across Massachusetts jobs are being cut and thousands of workers are being laid off. State and local governments are slashing critical public services and eliminating jobs--just when we should be expanding them.

One year after the federal government gave big business and the banks hundreds of billions of dollars for the bailout, corporations are not creating the jobs that were promised.

We need jobs and we want to work. On October 1, 2009, let's put the heat on corporations doing business in Massachusetts to provide the good jobs our communities need!

Join the fight against a jobless recovery and for an economy that works for everyone.
Thursday, October 1, 2009

4:00 PM Kickoff at the State House
4:30 PM March through downtown and the
Financial District
5:30 PM Rally at Federal Reserve Bank
(600 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

Call Jobs with Justice at (617) 524-8778 for bus info from Merrimack Valley, South Shore, Worcester and Springfield.

Motorcycle ride-ins to the rally are planned. For info call (617) 929-6000.

For more info, call Mass AFL-CIO (781) 324-8230, Jobs with Justice (617) 524-8778 or IBEW Local 2222 (617) 929-6000.
------------------------

Citizenship Preparation Classes

MIRA is happy to announce that Cleghorn Neighborhood Center is now offering Citizenship preparation classes. If you are in the Fitchburg area and would like to learn more please contact - Joana Dos Santos at 978-342-2069.
------------------------

Addressing Asthma in Boston

Breathe Easy At Home is a public-private health initiative from the Medical-Legal Partnership at Boston Medical Center in collaboration with Boston's Inspectional Service Department that seeks to address asthma in Boston by achieving the following:
• Improving communication with asthma clinicians, the Boston Public Health Commission, and the Inspectional Service Department Division of Housing Inspections.
• Utilizing housing code inspections to address asthma triggers in the home.
• Working together to deliver the services and resources needed to make Boston's housing stock healthier.
Partnerships with the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition, the Bowdoin Street Health Center, and the New England Asthma Regional Council provide the city's housing inspectors with additional resources to help Boston's asthmatic residents "breathe easier" at home.

Through a shared website doctors, nurses or other health professionals can refer potential housing code violations that may worsen the asthmatic's condition. Referring parties receive automatic case updates on inspections, and have on-line access to review their referrals. With the patient's consent the doctor electronically alerts Inspectional Services Department (ISD) from the convenience of their office. The request for inspection is received at ISD which then conducts an inspection to address code violations that are asthma triggers. Inspectors are trained to look for asthma triggers such as mold, infestations, drafty doors & windows, no heat, poor ventilation and unsanitary conditions. The property owner is notified of the violations and the inspector works with them to achieve compliance. The Breathe Easy Collaborative meets on a regular basis to review cases and assess if additional resources are needed.

Clinicians interested in joining the "Breathe Easy" referral network will be able to make referrals through Breathe Easy at Home. To register simply go to the following website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/isd/housing/bmc/default.asp
Tenants without a doctor's referral can contact the Boston Public Health Commission to be referred for a Breathe Easy housing inspection @ 617-534-5966 or asthma@bphc.org
If you experience any problems, or would like more information please call the Housing Division at 617-635-5322

Massachusetts Immigrants by the Numbers: Demographic Characteristics and Economic Footprint

2009-07-10T17:05:00.000-04:00

The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. of Malden recently published its report on the demographics and economic statistics of the immigrant community of Massachusetts. The report was prepared by The Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

MIRA Coalition is very pleased with the results. One of the goals of the Immigrant Learning Center is to raise the visibility of immigrants as assets to America, and the report has surly helped do so in Massachusetts. The report touches on many statistics about the state’s immigrant community, which makes up 14.1% of Massachusetts residents. These statistics range from those on education levels to social services received by and income tax percentages generated by immigrants.

One of the most emphasized sections of the report is that on labor force growth due to immigration. The report states that in 2007 21.6% of the Massachusetts population between 25 and 44 were immigrants, meaning that this population will be filling the positions left by retiring baby boomers and therefore paying a higher percentage of taxes. Even today, immigrants pay higher into the state income tax system, yet receive social services and transfer payments at similar levels as natives.

Eva Millona, the Executive Director of MIRA, says that the report “shows was MIRA has always contended-that immigrants play a major role in the economic and cultural life of our commonwealth…They pay into the system and take out of the system at about the same rate as the native-born population.” MIRA hopes that this report will influence and state lawmakers to move in a positive direction on issues of immigration – such as passing the Governor’s supplementary budget that will partially restore the drastic CommCare cuts discussed in our BlueMass group post and website.

E-Verify System Requirement a Wrong Turn for the Obama Administration

2009-07-10T17:04:00.001-04:00

The Obama Administration has taken a wrong step in its immigration policy. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Nepolitano, has declared that starting September 8, all businesses seeking and receiving federal contracts will be required to verify their workers’ immigration status through the E-Verify System. The system, created under the Bush Administration, shows employers whether their workers’ identification data matches that of government databases. However, many businesses have found that the system often provides unreliable and inaccurate information. There is even a pending lawsuit brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce challenging the constitutionality of such a system. Many believe that requiring such identity checks on all employees will only slow economic recovery during these trying times. This decision from President Obama is extremely disappointing and further proves the immediate need for national immigration reform.

Check Out Blue Mass Group

2009-07-10T17:01:00.004-04:00

Blue Mass Group’s Blog is a great way to stay informed. MIRA’s policy analysts, along with other people from around the state who are very involved with politics, write insightful and up-to-date articles on the issues that concern MIRA and its members. Most recently, MIRA posted an article entitled “Why Everyone Loses with CommCare Eligiblity Cuts,” which can be seen on the front page of the site. Some of the other newest articles include opinions on Deval Patrick’s chances at re-election and Bill Weld’s endorsement of Charlie Baker for Governor. There is also an upcoming events calendar for those wanting to become more involved in Massachusetts politics. Check out Blue Mass Group here.

Check out Reform Immigration for America | Home

2009-05-20T17:14:00.001-04:00

I want you to take a look at: Reform Immigration for America | Home

Immigrants' Day at the State House 2009

2009-05-07T17:25:00.008-04:00

Here are a few photos from Immigrants' Day, Wednesday, May 6, 2009. The location at the Grand Stair Case this year not only made for a beautiful setting, it put us at the center of the action. Walking down the marble hallways to join the rally, everyone could hear State Rep Byron Rushing (left) declare "This is YOUR House!" even before seeing the throngs of people and signs gathered around the stairs.

Made in L.A. Trailer

2009-05-06T20:10:00.000-04:00

PRESS STATEMENT: U.S. Supreme Court Stops Misuse of "Identity Theft" Law against Undocumented Immigrants

2009-05-05T15:39:00.001-04:00

Boston, MA - The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) applauds the Supreme Court's unanimous decision yesterday in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, which rejected government attempts to stretch criminal law in prosecutions of immigrant workers. Federal authorities have been charging immigrant workers who use false documents to secure employment with aggravated identity theft, a charge that carries a mandatory 2 year prison sentence. The Supreme Court ruling means that immigrants cannot be convicted under the statute unless they knew that the documents in question belonged to another person.

The government has made heavy use of this law against immigrant workers in the past. Most notably, federal authorities charged hundreds of workers with aggravated identity theft in the aftermath of the May, 2008 Agriprocessors raid in Postville, IA. Those workers, wishing to avoid the mandatory prison sentence, plead guilty to lesser charges in expedited criminal proceedings. Most, if not all, of these workers had used documents that they believed to me made up, and not associated with any other person, meaning that the aggravated identity theft charges should not have applied.

Eva Millona, Executive Director of MIRA, said, "While this decision comes too late to help the hundreds of workers who were forced to take a plea deal in Postville, it does mean that in the future, immigrant workers will be treated with more respect. We hope that this decision is only the first step in restoring the rule of law to immigrant workers and ensuring that justice applies to everyone regardless of their race or national origin."

This ruling does not erase all criminal charges for undocumented immigrants who use fake identity documents. There are still provisions of federal criminal law that outlaw such actions. However, what this decision does is clarify the genuine purpose of the aggravated identity theft statute - to target true identity thieves.

MIRA's Analysis of FY10 Final House Budget

2009-05-04T20:54:00.003-04:00

The House Committee on Ways & Means released the House Ways & Means version of the budget on April 15, 2009. Over the next two weeks, Representatives filed and debated amendments to the budget, before passing the final version of the House budget on Friday, May 1st.

Considering the current fiscal realities in Massachusetts and across the U.S., it is difficult to determine and define success this year. Furthermore, with revenue projections decreasing by the day and an estimated $456 million shortfall in April revenue, there will be more cuts ahead in the not too distant future, and the Senate will likely have fewer funds to work with than their counterparts in the House.

Nearly all programs and line items across the final House budget received cuts, including many of MIRA’s budget priorities. Some of MIRA’s priorities received minor cuts, others received larger cuts, and one program was completely eliminated from the final House budget. Of the five amendments filed on behalf of MIRA’s priorities, only two were added to the budget, and one of those was at half the desired level. Still, in this economic climate, every victory is important.

One important victory took place when an anti-immigrant amendment (Amendment #287 filed by Rep. Perry of Sandwich) that would have increased citizenship and immigration status verification requirements was voted down and replaced by a cost-benefit study that keeps the amendment out of the budget. The anti-immigrant amendment was defeated by a margin of 116-40. Numerous Representatives spoke up against the amendment on the floor and leadership assured its defeat. Please thank those who both supported our budget priorities and voted down the anti-immigrant amendment. We must be ready for similar anti-immigrant amendments in the Senate, where they have been successful in the past.

The following is an analysis of how MIRA’s budgetary priorities fared in the final House budget:

The Citizenship for New Americans Program (CNAP) (Line item 4003-0122) was funded at $500,000 in the final House budget, which represents a $80,000 cut from the Governor’s House 1 budget recommendation of $580,000 and a decrease of $110,000 from post-9C levels in FY09. MIRA thanks the House Ways & Means Committee for providing funding at levels equal to FY08, particularly considering the budget climate. Please thank Rep. Tony Cabral of New Bedford at 617-722-2017 for filing an amendment that would have increase citizenship funding.

The final House budget includes $28,085,646 for Adult Basic Education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (Line item 7035-0002), which represents a reduction of more than $3 million from FY09 levels of $31.1 million, a reduction of $1.9 million after this year’s 9-C cuts brought the value down to $29.9 million, and a cut of more than $1.1 million from the Governor’s recommendation of $29,223,195. MIRA and its allies are asking for funding at FY08 levels of $30.1 million. During times of economic crisis, MIRA and its allies feel that investing in the education and English language skills of the Commonwealth’s workforce and residents is a sound investment. The ABE/ESOL line item has been hit by a number of cuts in the last year, which total $3 million. Because everyone in the Commonwealth benefits from investments in our workforce, particularly in difficult economic times, we hope that the Senate budget recognizes this by funding ABE and ESOL at $30.1 million. Please thank Representative Frank Smizik of Brookline at 617-722-2676 and Representative Linda Dean Campbell of Methuen at 617-722-2877 for filing amendments that would have increased funding for ABE/ESOL.

The Workforce Training Fund (WTF) was funded at $21 million (line item 7003-0701) in the final House budget, after Representatives Coakley-Rivera and Rodrigues had their amendments added to the budget to increase the line item by $6 million. The Governor also proposed $21 million in the House 1 budget and MIRA was asking for full funding at $21 million to help facilitate the implementation of a Dedicated Fund for Workplace ABE/ESOL that combines funding from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s workplace education grants with funds from the WTF to create a single, streamlined fund that expands resources for workplace ABE/ESOL. The WTF is funded 100% through a tax on employers and, thus, does not impact funding of the General Fund. Please thank Representatives Coakley-Rivera of Springfield at 617-722-2014 and Representative Rodrigues of Westport at 617-722-2230 for filing amendments to fully fund the Workforce Training Fund at $21 million.

The line item containing the Refugee and Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (RISE) Program (4513-1130) was funded at $5,108,264 in the final House budget, down from nearly $6.4 million in FY09. The impact of the 20% cut on the RISE program will not be known until after the budget process, since the funds in the line item are disbursed through the Department of Public Health. As a result, it is currently unknown how the reduced funding will impact immigrants and refugees’ access to culturally and linguistically-appropriate domestic violence and sexual assault services, although language ensures the program will continue. The $300,000 set-aside for services for immigrants and refugees was eliminated, with the only positive coming in the language of the line item, which remains broad and inclusive of all immigrants. MIRA and its allies had been asking for level-funding of the line item at $6.4 million with $1,319,854 going to RISE. Please thank Representative Liz Malia of Boston at 617-722-2060 and Representative Driscoll of Braintree at 617-722-2396 for filing amendments to either increase funding for RISE and/or the line item.

The MassHealth Outreach and Enrollment Grants line item (4000-0352) was eliminated from the final House budget. The elimination of the line item reflects the Governor’s House 1 budget. MIRA and its allies are asking for level-funding at $3.5 million. Federal matching funds cover 60.2% (or $2.1 million) of the total in the line item, with the Commonwealth only responsible for $1.4 million. Unfortunately, the Governor and the House have failed to understand the importance of the grants to helping hard-to-reach populations, including immigrant communities and limited English proficient residents, retain coverage throughout the confusing enrollment reverification process. MIRA feels that the elimination of the line item will do nothing to reduce costs in the budget, as costly turnover in the system will increase, valuable time and energy will be lost navigating an incredibly complex system in which outreach and enrollment grantees have valuable expertise, and emergency room usage will increase. Please thank Representative Jim O’Day of Worcester at 617-722-2220 and Representative John Scibak of South Hadley at 617-722-2370 for filing amendments that would have reinstated the line item at $3.5 million.

Anti-immigrant Amendment #287, filed by Rep. Perry of Sandwich, that would have unnecessarily changed citizenship documentation and immigration status verification procedures at benefit-granting agencies for all federal and state benefits was defeated. Representative Alice Wolf of Cambridge offered a further amendment that called for a cost-benefit analysis of immigrants in the Commonwealth, a legislative maneuver that keeps the anti-immigrant amendment out of the budget. Aside from opposing the fundamental premise upon which Amendment #287 was filed—the assumption that benefit fraud from undocumented immigrants is widespread—MIRA and its allies fought anti-immigrant Amendment #287 because research has shown that increased citizenship documentation requirement disproportionately impact low-income U.S. citizens; require additional funding for outreach and education on new procedures and, as a result, represented an unfunded mandate; and our belief that current documentation and immigration status verification procedures already disenfranchise enough immigrant families who are eligible for federal and state benefits, among other reasons. Please review how your Representative voted and make sure they supported Rep. Wolf’s amendment by voting “Yea;” if they voted “Nay” please contact them to express your concerns and ask for their reasoning. Please also thank Representatives Wolf, Cabral, Swan, Bosley, Toomey, Sanchez, St. Fleur, and O’Flaherty who spoke on the floor against Amendment #287 and in favor of Rep. Wolf’s study.

Now, the budget process moves on to the Senate. The following is the projected timeline of the Senate budget:

May 13^th or 14^th: Senate Ways & Means releases its budget

May 15^th at 5pm: Deadline for filing amendments

May 19^th or 20^th: Begin budget debate

May 21^st: Finish budget debate

Please contact your Senator to urge them to support immigrant communities throughout the Commonwealth by co-sponsoring and supporting the line items and amendments for MIRA’s budgetary priorities. Below is the contact information for Senators as well as Senate leadership:

General Number: 617-722-2000

Senate Chairman of Ways & Means Panagiotakos: 617-722-1630

Senate President Murray: (617) 722-1500

If you do not know who your State Representative and/or Senator are, please visit: http://www.wheredoivotema.com.

For questions or more information, please contact Toby Guevin, MIRA’s State Policy Director, at tguevin@miracoalition.org or 617-350-5480 x216.

Press Advisory: New England Immigrants and Supporters Celebrate May Day

2009-04-28T18:43:00.004-04:00

When: Friday, May 1, various times

Who: Immigrants and representatives from dozens of immigrant organizations, advocacy groups, unions, faith-based coalitions, community programs, and ethnic media companies.

Where: East Boston-Chelsea-Everett, Mass.
Worcester, Mass.
Manchester, N.H.
Providence, R.I.

What: Immigrants and their supporters across New England rally for rights on a date celebrated around the globe as International Workers' Day. Along with friends at events across the nation, the MIRA Coalition joins forces with dozens of other organizations and hundreds of allies in the marches listed below:

Greater Boston, Mass.

A March from East Boston to Chelsea to Everett

Supporters gather at 2:30 p.m. at Liberty Plaza in Central Square, East Boston.

March arrives at 3:00 p.m. at Chelsea City Hall.

March concludes with a rally and entertainment from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.in Glendale Park, 50 Elm Street, Everett.

Sponsored by the Chelsea Collaborative (617) 889-6080

Worcester, Mass.
"Workers Seeking Justice for All" Rally
5:30 p.m. at Worcester City Hall

Speakers include: Sarang Sekhavat, MIRA Director of Federal Policy; Randy Feldman, immigration lawyer and community activist; Rocio Saenz, President SEIU Local 615; Wisam Breegi, Iraqi immigrant and businessman; Adalberto, member UNITE!/HERE union; Pastor Sarai Rivera, Christian Community Church; David Minasian, Carpenters Union Local 107; KOMBI represenative; Ron Madnick, Director ACLU Central Mass.

Performers include: Maury Kungfu's Lion Dancers, Uruguayan Murga troupe "La Klandestina", a multicultural youth hip-hop team from the Toxic Soil Busters, and Ritmos Dance Acad

Manchester, N.H.
4:00 p.m.
Manchester City Hall

Speakers include: New Hampshire A.F.L-C.I.O., religious and community leaders.

Providence, R.I.

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Between the ICE office and the Family Court building

200 Dyer St.

Local immigrants and friends rally in support of workers' and immigrants' rights.

NY Times Article Highlights Struggles of Mixed-Status Families; Report Laments Barriers to Higher Ed Access Faced by Undocumented Students

2009-04-27T22:41:00.010-04:00

A New York Times article over the weekend chronicled the challenges faced by mixed-status families, including the economic, social, and emotional strain of straddling two separate worlds within a single family.

A new report on higher ed access for undocumented students was released by a University of Washington professor. The report laments the "wasted talent" of high-achieving undocumented students being denied equal access to higher education because they are forced to pay out-of-state tuition rates, which are as much as three times in-state rates. To compund the high prices of out-of-state tuition costs at public colleges, undocumented students do not qualify for federal financial aid and many other loan and grant programs.

Here are some DREAM Act (federal version of education equality legislation) videos that show the students our state and public college system is missing out on:

- Toby

Another Great NY Times Editorial; Police Chiefs Support Driver's Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

2009-04-21T22:19:00.004-04:00

The New York Times was at it again today, elaborating on the relationship between comprehensive immigration reform and supporting worker's rights. One key point that is often forgotten in the debate over immigration, jobs, and wages is this: who holds the power. As the editorial points out:

“Workers don’t depress wages. Unscrupulous employers do,” said Terence O’Sullivan, president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.

The weekend found this article on driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, an issue that has garnered a good deal of attention across Massachusetts over the past few weeks. Many anti-immigrants complain about the cost of providing non-existent benefits to undocumented immigrants; yet when an option is brought up that would save time and money and increase public safety, they aren't happy either.

Good News at the End of a Long Week

2009-04-18T11:10:00.009-04:00

After a long week that included sharp cuts in funding to many essential programs and services across the state, including some to programs and services for immigrants and refugees, it is nice to see the potential of our advocacy efforts. For those of you who are not familiar with the story of the Ateaga family, it started here. Thanks to advocacy efforts by MIRA and others, this is the end of the story for now: