Pro-Immigrant State Bills 2011-2012

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

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

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.

PRESS STATEMENT: Patrick Tries to Resuscitate Immigrant Health Care

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."

PRESS STATEMENT: Immigrant Detainee Dies at Mass. Hospital

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

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: "CommCare Bridge" Shaky on Eve of Opening

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

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.
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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.
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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

Congress to Hold Hearing on Civil Rights Implications of 287(g) Agreements; Mayor Bloomberg of NYC Calls for Inclusion of Immigrants in Health Reform

The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing examining the implications of 287(g) agreements on civil rights tomorrow, April 2nd. America's Voice will cover the hearing live here and have started a question submitting campaign to ensure members of congress ask the right questions.

In other news, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg called today for the inclusion of immigrants in federal health reform.

"Our challenge is to keep Congress at the table until they come up with a workable solution – and commit to not walking away when the going gets tough. We need to ensure that federal reform strengthens and meets the needs of immigrants."

MIRA is involved in current efforts and working groups to ensure the inclusion of immigrants in any national health reform. Stay on the lookout for updates on the MIRA blog as health reform moves in Congress.

Speaker DeLeo Discusses MA State Budget Crisis; Budget Advocacy Efforts Essentail

Speaker Robert DeLeo discussed the budget crisis today, as covered by the Boston Globe. With the dire budget situation, advocacy becomes increasingly important. The MIRA Coalition, through a variety of feedback mechanisms (survey, one-on-ones, conference calls, etc.), developed its state advocacy agenda for 2009. All legislators at the MA State House have received a copy of the agenda and a letter detailing MIRA's budget priorities.


In terms of the budget, MIRA continues its advocacy efforts on the following budge items:

• Maintain funding for the Citizenship for New Americans Program (line item: 4003-0122) at $650,000;

• Fund Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (line item7035-0002) at its FY’08 level of $30.1 million;

• Implement the Dedicated Fund for Workplace ABE and ESOL, as recommended by the MA Workforce Investment Board, including full funding for the Workplace Training Fund;

• Fund the Refugee and Immigrant Safety and Empowerment Program (within line item: 4513-1130) at $300,000 with no change to the FY09 line item language;

• Fund MassHealth Outreach and Enrollment Grants (line item 4000-0352) at $3.5 million; and

• Continue support for the New Americans Agenda.

If you are interested in getting involved in advocacy efforts with MIRA, please contact MIRA's State Legislative Director. If you would like to contact your legislator(s) to support MIRA's budget priorities, you can find there information by visiting here. For an analysis of the impact of the Governor's House 1 budget on immigrants and refugees, click here.

Stay tuned for action alerts in the coming weeks.

MIRA, Amnesty International, ACLU, and Others Protest Quadrupling of Immigrant Detention

On Friday, more than 300 people protested the dramatic rise of immigrant detention in New England, where the average number of currently detained immigrants has tripled, and the U.S., where that number has quadrupled.

"It is time for us to stand up and say enough," said Eva Millona, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), who called on Congress to create a path to legal residency for the 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. "The cycle must end."

Not only have the numbers increased, but conditions have continued to be deplorable, with many immigrants in detention lacking adequate health care and access to legal representation. Unfortunately, an alarming 74 immigrants have died in detention over the past five years.

And while it is trivial in the battle for human rights and dignity, detention is not cost-effective. Detention averages $94/night, while other alternatives to detention cost a mere $13.

Another Day, Another Report Critical of ICE

This time the report, by Human Rights Watch and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, criticizes Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their failures to provide adequate health care to detainees.