But first: This week’s installment of “To Immigrants With Love”
A letter from the interactive exhibit that MIRA featured at Immigrants’ Day at the Statehouse.
WE ASKED. THEY ANSWERED. Thank you to the Massachusetts State Legislature and Governor Maura Healey for including funding for immigrant legal defense in the annual FY26 budget!
The Protect Our Immigrant Communities (POIC) campaign is celebrating the passage of $5 million in the FY26 state budget to help provide legal representation to immigrants at risk of deportation.
“Today, Massachusetts proudly showed how committed our state is to protecting immigrants and strengthening the right to due process,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. “While leaders in Washington continue their dangerous, baseless attacks against immigrants, we thank House Speaker Mariano and Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz, as well as Senate President Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for supporting this crucial reform, and Governor Healey for signing it into law.”
Use this link to thank your MA legislator – it takes less than 1 minute!
IN THE COURTS
N.H. judge to temporarily block Trump order ending birthright citizenship in nationwide class action lawsuit A federal judge in New Hampshire said Thursday he will certify a class action lawsuit including all children who will be affected by President Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship and issue a preliminary injunction blocking it.
Supreme Court Won’t Revive Aggressive Florida Immigration Law – The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to revive an aggressive Florida immigration law that had been blocked by lower courts. The law would let state officials prosecute unauthorized migrants who enter the state.
Bill would force ICE agents to ID themselves, ban most masks – Federal immigration agents would be banned from wearing most face coverings but be required to wear visible ID during public enforcement operations, according to a proposal from Democratic U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).
Massachusetts bill seeks to ban ICE agents from wearing masks – State Rep. Jim Hawkins, a Democrat representing Attleboro, is proposing legislation to ban law enforcement officers — local, state or federal — from wearing masks and personal disguises while on duty
Seven Illinois representatives co-sponsored a bill that would ban immigration agents from wearing masks. In Chicago, police district council members want the city to enforce “identification standards” for law enforcement.
In the California Legislature, there is a bill to ban all law enforcement from covering their faces while conducting operations in California. SB 627 was introduced by state Sens. Scott Wiener and Jesse Arreguín, two Bay Area Democrats, as well as Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Pasadena Democrat. Another bill, also introduced by Pérez and Wiener, would require local, state and federal law enforcement agents in California to display their name or badge number on their uniforms.
U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman announced that she is helping lead federal legislation that would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from concealing their identities during enforcement actions.
Lawmaker files bill to ban ICE agents, Tennessee law enforcement from wearing masks while making arrests – Justin Jones’ office says banning ICE from using masks during routine activities and arrests will ensure public accountability and will be necessary to protect immigrants’ rights and “build lasting public safety.”
IN THE COMMUNITY
Protesters call on Gov. Healey to end Dept. of Correction’s cooperation with ICE: A crowd of more than 40 protesters demonstrated in front of Gov. Maura Healey’s Arlington home Monday morning at 5 a.m., calling on her to end a Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) cooperation agreement with ICE.
Western Mass communities rally against ICE: In the months since Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stepped up its activity nationwide, communities in places like Easthampton, Greenfield and Amherst have responded by organizing and staging reoccurring protests.
South Floridians line up outside ICE facility where Haitian woman died to protest Alligator Alcatraz, Trump’s immigration policies For the second day in a row, protestors took to the streets of South Florida to speak out against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Under Trump’s Crackdown, a New Crop of Immigrant Rights Groups Rises: The latest networks of volunteers are hyperlocal and focused on responding to federal actions
INSPIRATION AND WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
Ask your MA legislator to cosponsor the Immigrant Legal Defense Act! We are thrilled about the budget victory, but there is more work to be done! Use this link to send them a letter.
Love and Baked Goods! 10% of the sales of Banana Walnut Cookies from July-September will be donated to the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA). The @mira_coalition is committed to creating an equal and just home to the immigrant & refugee population in Massachusetts; a mission that is now more important than ever. Go get a cookie! Hearth and Hug Bakery in Somerville
Developer builds app called ICE Block – crowdsourced app for ICE sightings that doesn’t collect personal data
FOR YOU
