Photo from left: MIRA’s IAS team: Catherine Kannam, Slandy Sanon, and Nahomie Vilnaigre, with colleague Obelle Pluviose (SaveSouls)
December 18 marks International Migrants’ Day—a moment to recognize the courage of people who journey across borders in search of safety and opportunity, and to celebrate those who walk alongside them. At MIRA Coalition, our Immigrant Assistance Services (IAS) team embodies this solidarity every day. To honor this day, we’re sharing stories that reflect both the barriers immigrant families face and the determination—of families themselves and of the teams who support them—to overcome them.
When Information Becomes a Lifeline
“A woman at a Know Your Rights presentation spoke to us following the presentation,” the team recalls. “She had asylum for a year and could qualify for a green card, but lived in a homeless shelter and could not afford the green card application fee. She assumed that she would have to wait to apply for a green card until she could figure out funds to pay the application fee.”
The team was able to share crucial information: living in a homeless shelter qualified her for a full fee waiver. She could move forward immediately.
“She was so relieved to know that she could make progress on her journey to receive permanent legal status in the United States, and could also save money for her family’s other needs instead of immigration fees.”
Being There in Moments of Panic
Sometimes legal support means being available when crisis strikes without warning. The IAS team describes working with a family months after initially helping them file a motion with the court:
“Six months later, the family came to our office in a panic because they received a letter, notifying them of an interview with USCIS in less than 24 hours. Our team quickly rallied together to provide a legal consultation on what they could expect, sample interview questions to help the family prepare, and walked them through what to do if the worst case scenario occurred and government agents attempted to detain them.”
The family made it through the interview safely. They knew they had the IAS team on their side—and that support makes a difference.
The Power of Information
The IAS team has witnessed how vital information spreads through communities when people feel empowered to share it:
“During a Know Your Rights presentation we did, many audience members started calling and texting loved ones, sharing the information with them. Before we knew it, we were taking questions not only from audience members, but from people via phone call who were listening in to the presentation.”
With so many immigration policy changes happening quickly, this ripple effect matters. “With the immigration policies constantly changing throughout this administration,” the team notes, “sharing the most up-to-date information, as far and wide as we can, matters more than ever.”
Persisting When the System Says No
Some cases require persistence in the face of judicial indifference. The team worked with a client living in a homeless shelter who needed to transfer her immigration case from Illinois to Massachusetts.
“We were shocked when the judge denied her request, with him saying that living in a shelter and not being able to afford travel to Illinois only constituted an ‘ordinary hardship.'”
The client was understandably upset and panicked. But one of the IAS staff attorneys helped her file a renewed motion with additional evidence. When the judge didn’t respond to the renewed motion, the team invited the client and her son to join them in the office for the hearing.
“One of our staff attorneys could be there to support her as she appeared online for the hearing and explained to the judge why she could not make it there in person. With our support, the client finally got her case transferred to Massachusetts.”
Delivering Difficult News With Dignity
Not every story has a straightforward resolution. Through the state’s Help Desk initiative, the team met with a family confused about why they hadn’t received work authorization.
“Our team looked up the status of their case online, and learned that the family had been ordered removed, even though they did not realize it. We had to break the hard news to the family, but they were grateful that they could talk to one of our lawyers and figure out what next steps were available to them.”
Even when the news is difficult to hear, having someone who can help navigate what comes next provides families with a foundation to stand on.
Meeting Families Where They Are
Some cases arrive with urgency built in. The IAS team received an emergency referral for a family facing an immigration hearing in less than 12 weeks.
“Our team helped them file motions, asking that either their immigration case be transferred to Boston, or that the court would grant the family permission to appear for the hearing virtually.”
When the motions went unanswered—twice—the team met with the family to explain their options candidly. The family decided to travel to attend the hearing at its original location.
“Our team was there to support every step of the way, even doing a hearing preparation call with the family while they were in the airport.”
This is what showing up looks like: making sure a family doesn’t face a life-altering hearing alone, even when that means being on the phone while they wait to board a plane.
Looking Forward
These stories represent just a fraction of the work the IAS team has accomplished since the program launched. Behind each one is a family navigating a complex, often hostile immigration system—and a team of dedicated professionals ensuring they don’t have to do it alone.
On this International Migrants’ Day, we honor the strength of immigrant families, as well as the attorneys, case managers, and support staff who create pathways through bureaucracy, who deliver difficult news with compassion, and who celebrate every small victory alongside the families they serve.
If you’re a newly arrived immigrant family residing in Massachusetts emergency assistance shelters, have recently left shelter, or meet the Massachusetts’ shelter qualifications, the IAS team may be able to help. Learn more about eligibility and services at miracoalition.org/our-work/ias or email IAS@miracoalition.org.
And to our IAS team: Thank you. Your work turns crisis into hope, confusion into clarity, and isolation into solidarity. That’s worth celebrating today and every day.
Empower immigrant communities this year end
Thanks to supporters like you, MIRA continues to stand with immigrant and refugee communities across Massachusetts—even in the face of unprecedented challenges. Families have endured detention, racial profiling, and systemic barriers, yet our communities continue to organize, support one another, and speak out. The future may be uncertain, but together, we will not stand by.
We’re asking you to make a gift today toward MIRA’s year-end campaign as we work to raise $350,000. Your generosity allows MIRA to respond swiftly and effectively where support is needed most—and most importantly, it amplifies the voices of the people at the heart of our work.
Join us in empowering immigrant communities with a gift today.