A Message from MIRA’s Executive Director Liz Sweet

Dear MIRA Supporters,
What a year.  2025 tested MIRA Coalition in a way that we could not have anticipated.  We navigated escalating ICE activity and surges in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, dizzying and significant immigration law and policy changes, and unrelenting fear in immigrant communities and among our member organizations. And yet, MIRA rose to these challenges.  We navigated losses of federal and state funding and asked for - and received - the support of so many generous individual donors and volunteers who stepped up to help us continue key programs.  We expanded our Know-Your-Rights work to meet the constant demand, and remain amazed by the more than 100,000 downloads of our materials—many of which were then further distributed.  Our team rose to the challenge of advocating at the state level to protect our communities, launching the Protecting Massachusetts Communities campaign and securing state funding for immigration legal services, which resulted in the creation of the Massachusetts Access to Council Initiative (MACI). I am grateful to our strong and diverse team who continue to do the hard work every day to respond to all the attacks on immigrant communities.  While we grieve the deep erosion of our country’s values to welcome and include immigrants, MIRA has served as a constant voice for the value of immigrants to our Commonwealth and our nation. These efforts were strengthened by immigrant leaders and MIRA members who organized, advocated, and shared their perspectives alongside us. We are proud to have been quoted regularly in the media, to have led rallies and vigils, and to have maintained a strong presence in the State House, ensuring that our state leaders continue to focus on immigrant communities. None of this would have been possible without our long-time friends, member organizations, and donors, as well as new partners who are joining us to respond to these grave moments for immigrants.  We are grateful to all of you. Together, we continue. 

With deep appreciation,
Liz