MIRA, in partnership with the Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), hosted a series of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) clinics across Massachusetts from September 30 to November 22, 2024. This large-scale collaborative effort, involving ORI, IFSI-USA, and numerous community-based organizations, successfully assisted over 3,200 individuals in applying for TPS.
TPS is a humanitarian program that provides temporary relief and protection to individuals from designated countries facing extraordinary challenges, such as armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other crises. It allows recipients to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation for the duration of their TPS designation (currently 18 months), offering much-needed stability.
Through organizational partnerships across the state, MIRA and its collaborators helped with application preparation, onsite consultations, USCIS processing and biometric data collection. Together, the effort set a nationwide record with USCIS for the highest number of applications processed in a single day.
The clinics brought together a diverse network of support, including attorneys from both non-profit and private sectors, paralegals, translators, and community volunteers. Their collective expertise and commitment made it possible to provide high-quality assistance to applicants at every stage of the process.
To maximize accessibility, clinics were strategically held across the North Shore, Greater Boston, Central, Western, and South Shore regions. This geographic reach ensured that individuals from all parts of the state could participate. Thanks to the dedication of legal providers and community partners, the clinics reached a total of 3,279 individuals, demonstrating the power of collaboration in addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
MIRA wants to thank all the providers, organizations and agencies who partnered with us to make this initiative such a resounding success:
Partners: Office for Refugee and Immigrants. and IFSI
Site hosts:
New Jerusalem Evangelical Baptist Church, Randolph
South Congregational Church, Springfield
Saint Mary of Assumption, Milford
Academy of Creative Arts, Burlington
CBO and/or legal service partners:
Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts
Boston Missionary Baptist Community Center
Central West Justice Center
Jewish Family Services of Western MA
Center for New Americans
Mabel Center for Immigrant Justice
Goldman & Partners Immigration Law
Agencia Alpha
DeNovo
Northeast Justice Center
Law firms and organizations that sent volunteers and assisted with pre-registration:
International Institute of New England
PAIR Project
Immigrants’ Assistance Center
Friendly House
Office of New Americans
Jewish Family Services of MetroWest
Foley & Lardner LLP
Metrowest Worker Center – Casa
Goldman & Partners Immigration Law
Dodge Law, PC
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Clark Lau LLC
Ropes & Gray
Fragomen
Iandoli Desai & Cronin P.C.