Skip to content

Author: Jessica Chicco

Featured Author: Jessica Chicco

The Impact of ICE Enforcement on Massachusetts Communities

How ICE enforcement operations have detrimentally affected our communities ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement operations under the second term of the Trump administration have detrimentally affected our communities, and the harm impacts everyone: citizens and lawful permanent residents as well as undocumented individuals across the United States.  For nearly two years, we have watched … Continued

Policy Updates – 10/15/2026

On September 30, the Massachusetts District Court issued an order staying certain provisions of an Interim Final Rule issued by the Trump administration regarding the collection of civil penalties for certain immigration-related violations.  Under the rule, DHS issued fines of up to $1.8 million to individuals for failure to depart. The court found that the … Continued

Cut Off From Care 

Thousands of Massachusetts Immigrants Lose Health Coverage Under New Federal Law Contributed by MIRA’s Access and Resources Specialist Catherine Ramirez Mejia On July 4, 2025, Congress passed the HR1 (referred to by the Trump administration as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3)”), introducing sweeping cuts to federal healthcare programs. Some restrictions, such as those on … Continued
MIRA POLICY UPDATE

Changes to MassHealth Eligibility (10/1/2026)

Policy Updates

Changes to MassHealth Eligibility New restrictions on immigrant eligibility for MassHealth begin to take effect today, October 1. These changes mean that some immigrants will no longer be eligible for comprehensive MassHealth (Medicaid), including those who have been granted asylum or refugee status, and victims of trafficking. Some – especially those over 65 or disabled … Continued

Policy Update Federal

New Asylum Processing Rule

News Policy Updates

New Asylum Processing Rule (7/31/2026) The Trump Administration published a new rule on July 28 about how Asylum Officers should process asylum applications. The rule allows Asylum Officers to transfer some asylum cases to immigration court for deportation proceedings without first interviewing the applicant. Situations in which an Asylum Officer may be able to do … Continued

Policy Update Federal

TPS ended for Haiti and Syria

News Policy Updates

TPS ended for Haiti and Syria (7/30/2026) The Trump Administration has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections for Haiti and Syria effective July 27, 2026. This means that work permits issued through TPS are no longer valid. However, many TPS holders may have work permits issued in connection with another immigration benefit or pending application, … Continued

Policy Update Federal

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship (7/1/2026)

Policy Updates

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship  The Supreme Court issued a decision that stops the Trump Executive Order on birthright citizenship from taking effect. The Executive Order would have meant that babies born in the US of a mother with no or temporary lawful status would not be considered US citizens unless the father was a … Continued

Policy Update Federal

Supreme Court decision on TPS (6/25/26)

News Policy Updates

Supreme Court Decision on TPS The Supreme Court issued a decision allowing the termination of TPS for Haiti and Syria to take effect. The case is being returned to the lower courts and that process can take about 30 days. In the meantime, TPS protections remain in place and work permits remain valid. Even without … Continued

Policy Update Federal

Policy Update – Pause in Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries (1/16/26)

News Policy Updates

Pause in Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries This week, the media reported that the Trump Administration has issued new guidance instructing consular officers to suspend processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries. Interviews will continue but cases will then be placed in an administrative hold. The guidance cites concerns related to “public … Continued