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Members of the Media: Requests for facts, statements, resources, and appearances are always welcome
Contact Frank Soults for more information at fsoults@miracoalition.org
Press ReleasesU..S. Supreme Court Stops Misuse of “Identity Theft” Law against Undocumented Immigrants
5/12/2009
- 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.
Massachusetts Mourns Binghamton Victims
4/ 9/2009
- The MIRA Coalition and the immigrant communities of Massachusetts would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and the Binghamton community in wake of this horrific tragedy.
PS NY Times Confirms Obama's Commitment to Immigration Reform
4/ 9/2009
- In a front page lead story today, The New York Times confirmed President Obama’s intention to reform immigration this year. A senior administration official told the paper of the president’s commitment to build “an orderly system,” including finding a way to bring undocumented workers onto the path of legalization. “He intends to start the debate this year,” said the official, Cecilia Muñoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Press Statement: President Obama Reiterates Promise for Immigration Reform
3/18/2009
- Boston, MA – Earlier today, President Obama met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss the issue of immigration reform. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated his support for comprehensive immigration reform and announced that he will make a public statement in May that will lay out his plans for a just and humane reform.
PS New Administration, Same Old Destructive Immigration Enforcement Tactics
2/25/2009
- Boston, MA- Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents descended on an engine remanufacturing plant in Bellingham, Washington, 2 hours north of Seattle. ICE arrested 28 people, including 3 mothers, from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, put them in handcuffs and then into deportation proceedings.
Press Release: Mayor, English Works Campaign Award 11 Businesses and Labor Management Partnerships for Support of English language classes for Immigrant Workforce
2/18/2009
- Boston – On February 18th, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the English Works Campaign awarded the first 'City of Boston/ English Works Campaign Certificate of Recognition' to 11 unique local businesses and labor management partnerships for their support of English language classes for immigrants in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Other key labor, community, and educational partners were also recognized.
MIRA Press Statement: No Place for Racial Profiling
2/10/2009
- Boston, MA – The New York Times recently printed an article concerning the enforcement efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the article, the focus of ICE’s work has been to track down and arrest people with criminal records, the number of people arrested who do not have criminal records has risen to 40 percent. Yet, the amount of funding allocated to this department by Congress has grown to $625 million dollars.
Press Statement: Immigrant Community Celebrates Obama's Signing of New Children's Health Bill
2/ 4/2009
- Boston, MA - Late this afternoon, President Obama will sign into law the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). CHIPRA includes the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), which gives states the option to lift the 5-year waiting period on new, legal immigrant children and pregnant women to make them eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP.
Press Statement: Immigrant Communities React to New
2/ 3/2009
- Boston, MA – On Friday, January 30th, Janet Napolitano, the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued a series of directives to review and assess many of the agencies policies with regard to immigration and border security.
PRESS ADVISORY: Unity Rally: Making History Together
11/ 3/2008
- Broad Coalition Brings Together Diverse Communities of Color for "Making History Together," to Celebrate, Engage, & Defeat Question 1
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MIRA in the NewsWiley: Stop breaking families apart, leaders say
10/ 7/2008
- While most talks lately have been about politics and the economy, support for undocumented immigrants made its way Wednesday to Boston's City Hall Plaza, where more than 300 people rallied against the raids that keep breaking families apart.
Skirting of state hiring laws focus of forum
9/24/2008
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WORCESTER— Employers who skirt the law by paying workers under the table or improperly treating them as contractors make up a significant part of the construction and trades industry, making it harder and more costly for law-abiding union and nonunion businesses to survive, worker and business representatives said yesterday.
Immigration is focus of Standard-Times forum
9/ 8/2008
- NEW BEDFORD — The many sides and complexities of the immigration issue — from the separation of families after deportation to the rising number of undocumented workers — were aired Wednesday night at a lively forum sponsored by The Standard-Times' editorial board.
Immigration is focus of Standard-Times forum
9/ 8/2008
- NEW BEDFORD — The many sides and complexities of the immigration issue — from the separation of families after deportation to the rising number of undocumented workers — were aired Wednesday night at a lively forum sponsored by The Standard-Times' editorial board.
70 arrests announced in ICE antigang operation
8/12/2008
- Fifty-two gang members and 28 other criminals have been arrested this week as part of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation, ICE announced today.
Bill adds rules for prepaid cellphones
7/30/2008
- A state lawmaker wants to require all buyers of prepaid cellphones to provide their names and other information for a statewide database to help police track down criminals, a proposal that is opposed by wireless companies as unwieldy and by an advocacy group as potentially unfair to immigrants.
Initiative Seeks to Aid Immigrants
7/15/2008
- Governor Deval Patrick launched a statewide initiative yesterday to find ways to integrate immigrants into Massachusetts "as quickly as possible" at a time when their numbers are booming.
Immigration bill's backers see hope (copy)
6/11/2007
- WASHINGTON -- Senators who negotiated a sweeping immigration package said yesterday that they are hopeful the measure will be approved, despite votes by an angry and resentful Senate derailing the historic legislation.
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General NewsDisturbing Amnesty International Report Released
3/26/2009
- Still Bushed: Amnesty International released a disturbing report about U.S. Immigration Detention Centers, which holds foreigners -- and in some cases even Americans -- for not having naturalization papers.
Editorial: A Catastrophic Silence
11/26/2008
- The killing of Marcelo Lucero, an Ecuadorean immigrant, on Long Island this month brought with it a cruel blessing. From a shocking crime — an assault by a gang of boys accused of making a hobby of hunting Latinos — came a chance for a stricken, divided community to bind old wounds and to bury anger.
Settlement reached in Bianco case, Company agrees to pay $850,000 in unpaid wages
11/19/2008
- BOSTON — In its second major settlement in two weeks, Michael Bianco Inc. has agreed to pay $850,000 in unpaid overtime and wages to more than 750 workers, including some who were arrested and deported following a massive immigration raid at the former New Bedford military gear factory.
Obama faces pressure on immigration reform
11/17/2008
- Before a huge crowd in San Diego last summer, Barack Obama vowed to make fixing illegal immigration a top priority as president, and Latinos nationwide responded with massive support for him on Election Day. Now, they are pressing him to keep his promise.
A Killing in a Town Where Latinos Sense Hate
11/14/2008
- PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — It was an occasional diversion among a certain crowd at Patchogue-Medford High School, students said: Drink a few beers, then go looking for people to mug, whether for money or just for kicks.
A Killing in a Town Where Latinos Sense Hate
11/14/2008
- PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — It was an occasional diversion among a certain crowd at Patchogue-Medford High School, students said: Drink a few beers, then go looking for people to mug, whether for money or just for kicks.
EDITORIAL: A Death in Patchogue
11/12/2008
- Marcello Lucero was killed late Saturday night near the commuter railroad station in Patchogue, N.Y., a middle-class village in central Long Island. He was beaten and stabbed. The friend who crouched beside him in a parking lot as he lay dying, soaked in blood, said Mr. Lucero, who was 37, had come to the United States 16 years ago from Ecuador.
Taxpayers' costs top $5 million for May raid at Postville
10/14/2008
- The nation's taxpayers have spent $5.2 million on the raid of Agriprocessors Inc. in Postville by immigration officials.
Web site keeps Brazilian immigrants connected
10/14/2008
- FRAMINGHAM —
When high school senior Sarah Pereira connects to the Internet, the first thing she does is click on her favorite social networking site, which has nothing to do with those favored by her American peers.
Seeking a home away from homophobia
10/14/2008
- In her sister's spacious home in Chelsea, Delmy Berganza sat at the kitchen table one recent day and talked openly about life as a lesbian. In her native El Salvador, she was too terrified to utter the word.
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