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Subscribe to MIRA BulletinClick here to subscribe to MIRA's bi-weekly BulletinBecome a MIRA Member
MIRA is the only statewide organization that unites community organizations, human service providers, civic and religious leaders, state and local agencies, and legal and labor groups to work together to uphold the rights and opportunities of newcomers. We also work to connect local activists with national policy debates that impact immigrants' lives.
Click here for a membership form.
If you have any questions about MIRA or becoming a MIRA member, please contact Marcony Almeida at 617.350.5480 Ext. 205. Recent NewsBOSTON -- Immigrants and their allies gathered around computers and televisions here and across the nation to watch live transmissions of Barack Obama's speech at American University in Washington D.C. this morning. It was the first time since his election as president that Mr. Obama dedicated an entire speech to the nation's "broken immigration system." Read More... 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 Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: Final Budget Delivers Mixed Message to Immigrants BOSTON -- Last night the conference committee released the final state budget and delivered a mixed message to the Commonwealth's diverse community of nearly one million immigrants. On the one hand, the committee crafted a fair compromise on the provisions that were passed at the end of May by the State Senate in a sweeping budget amendment targeting undocumented immigrants. The only provisions that the committee passed were those that codify existing regulations preventing undocumented immigrants from accessing state benefits. Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: Hundreds Tell Senate to Step Back and Scott Brown to Speak Up on Immigration BOSTON -- Hundreds of Massachusetts residents of all hues crowded before the Grand Staircase in the State House on June 3, 2010 to speak against Senate Amendment 172.1, which would provide recourse for neighbors of one hue to turn in neighbors of another through a newly established toll-free number at the Attorney General's Office. "This is not the kind of society we want in Massachusetts," said Eliseo Medina, Executive Vice President of SEIU International union "Massachusetts is NOT Arizona." Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: State Senate Scapegoats Immigrants BOSTON -- On May 19, 2010, the Senate voted 28 to 10 to approve a package of budget amendments that target immigrants while also savaging taxpayers' pocketbooks and citizens' rights. "This package goes against the proud history of Massachusetts as an inclusive, welcoming state," said Eva Millona, Executive Director of Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). "It is also a discredit to the deliberative reputation of the State Senate. They took twenty minutes of debate to undo a culture and policies that administrations and legislatures, both Republican and Democrat, have built up over years." Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: Second-Grader Shows Michelle Obama the Real World While President Barack Obama was holding a press conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, carefully saying the right thing in another boilerplate comment about immigration, a little girl was asking Mrs. Obama why her husband was still doing exactly the wrong thing. Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: Boston City Council Votes to Boycott Arizona BOSTON -- By voice vote on May 3, 2010, the Boston City Council unanimously passed a resolution that urges the city to pull investments from Arizona in protest over the state's new immigration law. The Arizona law, S.B. 1070, requires police officers to demand immigration papers whenever they have "reasonable suspicion" about the status of civilians with whom they come in contact, and to arrest those who cannot prove their legal status. Read More... PRESS STATEMENT: MIRA Calls on Members and Allies to Support Arizona Boycott BOSTON -- On May 3, 2010, an Associated Press story reported that two Boston City Councilors were introducing a resolution asking the city to end agreements with Arizona and Arizona-based companies, in protest of a new Arizona state law, SB 1070, which requires that state and local police officers arrest anyone who cannot immediately prove his or her immigration status. Today, several right-wing radio hosts and others rallied their listeners to oppose the boycott, and the Boston City Council has been flooded with angry phone calls Read More... MIRA Calls for Support of Boston City Council's Arizona Boycott Resolution BOSTON -- On May 3, 2010, an Associated Press story reported that two Boston City Councilors were introducing a resolution asking the city to end agreements with Arizona and Arizona-based companies, in protest of a new Arizona state law, SB 1070, which requires that state and local police officers arrest anyone who cannot immediately prove his or her immigration status. Today, several right-wing radio hosts and others rallied their listeners to oppose the boycott, and the Boston City Council has been flooded with angry phone calls Read More... Recomended LinksRecomended PagesEnglish Works Campaign Turns One
On June 25, the English Works Campaign had its One Year Anniversary meeting. Over 25 members attended the meeting and celebration. This unique coalition, which focuses on English proficiency for immigrants as a tool for economic self-sufficiency, has been a great success so far.
With all the Success of the campaign, English Works now celebrates the creation of its new and remodeled web page.Please visit www.english-works.org to find out more about the campaign, or click here for a link to the page.
We look forward to its continued achievements in the years to come. You may also find more information about the Campaign here. |
DREAM ActIn recent Months momentum has been made around
the DREAM Act, a smart piece of legislation that would allow
undocumented youth to pursue their collegiate or military aspirations
and enter a path to legalization. We urge you today to call on to Senator Scott Brown and ask him to take a stance in favor of the DREAM Act!We have 1-800 lines set up to get in touch with his office! English: 866-996-5161 Spanish: 866-961-4293 We urge you to CALL!!!
 Senator
Durbin has launched an effort to collect stories of immigrant youth from around the country who would
be eligible for the DREAM Act (a.k.a. “Dreamers”). He will be using
several examples gathered in the Senate floor as foundation in his
speeches debating in favor of the DREAM Act! MIRA Coalition will be
joining forces with the Illinois Senator in collecting these
stories. If you know a story of a
young undocumented student who would be eligible for the DREAM Act please contact Filipe Zamborlini (Field Organizer,
617-350-5480 ext.200, fzamborlini@miracoalition.org). MIRA is
collecting stories to send to Senator Durbin’s office, so together we
can support our immigrant youths to achieve the American Dream! For
questions or concerns, please contact us! Reform Immigration FOR America
After the calls, rallies, messages to the White House, and amazing work put in by several groups, the Senate leadership has decided to present an outline of Immigration Reform. The MIRA Coalition has put together an easy-to-understand summary of this outline: Follow Health Care at the State and National LevelMIRA is working on both the State and Federal level to ensure the best possible outcomes for immigrant access to health care. Click here to visit MIRA's state health care webpage for updates and information on immigrant access to health care in Massachusetts. Click here to visit MIRA's federal access to benefits webpage for updates from the national level. With the finalized FY2011 State Budget sent to Governor Patrick, some health benefits available to certain special status immigrants could have been denied if federal funds were not to come through to the state of Massachusetts.Congress finally approved a return of funds of nearly $600 million to the state of Massachusetts that will help maintain vital services to our immigrant community, specifically funds to allow health care for
documented immigrants in MA through the
Commonwealth Care Bridge Program to be kept.
 Support Haiti The MIRA Coalition extends its support to the Haitian community in Massachusetts, and to Haitians everywhere, who have suffered from the earthquake in their native land on January 12._______________________ USCIS has announced an extension of another six months to apply forTemporary Protected Status (TPS) to all Haitian immigrants, and the right to work that goes with it. The deadline for applications had been this July 20; it will now be January 18, 2011.The granting of TPS will allow undocumented Haitian immigrants without criminal records to live and work in the U.S. - TPS is set to last through July 22, 2011, and perhaps longer if any extensions are granted.To find out more about TPS services and other contact information, please visit ourHaitian Relief Page.___________ MIRA and its membership thank Wainwright Bank for their support in helping with our outreach and coordination effort with the Haitian community in Boston.
Haitian Groups Meet with USCIS to Discuss Temporary Protected StatusOn Wednesday, January, 20, MIRA representatives along with 150 people from local nonprofit organizations, the Haitian community and government agencies met at the Haitian Multi-service Center with Denis Riordan, Director of the Boston District Office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).Director Riordan explained how Temporary Protected Status for Haitians would work, and he answered questions and concerns for three hours. Please check back to learn of future meetings.
Video: A Dream DeferredWhat happens to a dream deferred? MIRA collaborated with Brave New Films to bring you this video and blog, A Dream Deferred. Every year, dedicated high-school students are denied the chance to attend college, based solely on their undocumented status. This website is a place for these students to tell their story anonymously, and an opportunity for you to do something. |
Events
REFORM, RELIEF, RESPECT RALLY - SEPTEMBER 15
REGISTER NEW AMERICAN VOTERS & VOTER DRIVES 
MASS LEGAL SERVICES EVENT CALENDAR (Includes TPS information sessions)
 Fair Opportunity for Immigrant StudentsImmigrant students have in the past much sought MIRA Coalition and our allies in order to find the path to higher education and support for their issues. MIRA Coalition would like to commend the many people who so avidly support these students, parents, teachers, councilors and the many organization that aid them so often! Following is a list informational factsheets & material to your aid and support: 1. In-State Tuition Basic Facts 2. Education Parity for Immigrant Students in MA (FACT SHEET) 3. Read more about Oppotunities for Higher Education De-bunking Immigration Myths"They Take Our Jobs!": And 20 Other Myths about Immigration is a timely guide that debunks the twenty-one biggest myths and stereotypes in today's immigration debate. Order your book here. Enter "MIRA" as the discount code, and receive a 10% discount! Beacon Press, the local progressive non-profit publisher is donating part of the proceeds to MIRA when you use the discount code! Please get informed while helping to support our work. Desmintiendo Mitos sobre la Inmigración "They Take Our Jobs!": And 20 Other Myths about Immigration/ "Toman nuestros trabajos!: 20 mitos acerca de la inmigracion. Es una guía actualizada que desmiente 21 mitos grandes y estereotipos en el debate actual migratorio. Order your book here/ Ordena tu libro aquí. Entracon la palabra"MIRA" para acceder al código de descuento y recibirás un 10% de descuento! en Beacon Press, la editorial local progresista sin fines de lucro que estara donando una parte proporcional a MIRA cuando uses el codigo de descuento! Por favor este informado mientras apoya nuestro trabajo! New Americans Agenda Report Released
MIRA is pleased to announce that at our Thanksgiving event on Tuesday, November 17, 2009, Governor Patrick released the New Americans Agenda (NAA). The NAA is a comprehensive set of recommendations on how to better integrate immigrants and refugees into the civic and economic life of the Commonwealth. The report was prepared over the past year by the Governor’s Advisory Council in partnership with MIRA and the state Office for Refugees and Immigrants. Contributors to the report include MIRA members Alliance to Develop Power, Center for New Americans, Chelsea Collaborative, Community Economic Development Center, Immigrants Assistance Center, Irish Immigration Center, ONE Lowell, ROCA, The Massachusetts Mutual Assistance Association Coalition, and Cleghorn Neighborhood Center. All these organizations worked hard to co-host six public meetings across the state to ensure the input of the immigrant community into the process. MIRA extends thanks to each of these organizations for their hard work and dedication, and to each of the over 1200 community members who attended these public meetings. We are very excited about the 131 recommendations in the report, covering Civil Rights, Adult English Language Proficiency, Economic Development, Education, Public Safety, Employment and Workforce Development, Access to State Services, Citizenship Assistance, Health, Refugees, Youth, and Housing and Community Development. We look forward to working with our members to implement these important recommendations. Welcoming MA
 Welcoming MA is very avid to holding these principles; that Massachusetts residents are hospitable, welcoming and inclusive of diversity, uphold the basic principles upon which the United States was founded, believe that harsh immigration enforcement policies violate civil and human rights of immigrants , that workplace and home raids must end immediately and that our nation must implement a humane and just reform of our immigration laws, that immigrants are fellow human, commit to raising the level of public discourse concerning immigrants and immigration, so that public policies reflect our highest values, and to better understand the contributions immigrants make to our state. For more information on Welcoming MA visit their web site at www.welcomingamerica.org, or follow the link here.
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Video: Immigration RaidOn February 7, 2008 Immigrations Customs Enforcement (ICE) called the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) to announce that there would be a raid "somewhere in Van Nuys, California." Asserting that the call was an effort to follow "humanitarian" protocol, what followed was hardly humanitarian in nature. Produced by Anike Tourse, directed by Alberto Barboza, edited by Ian Mayberry. Check out more videos at CHIRLAVIDEOS. Check out videos on the immigration raid in New Bedford by Jenny Alexander. |
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REPAIR-Analysis-final.pdf
