Skip to content

Author: Laura Perras

Featured Author: Laura Perras

Policy Updates – 10/22/2026

DHS indefinitely extended TPS for Ukraine and Sudan on Monday; those with protections will retain status for the time being. TPS for these countries was set to expire on October 19, but the agency declined to announce any decision on the future of over 100,000 people impacted, only saying that an announcement “will be made … Continued

Advancing Policy Solutions for Immigrant Mental Health

Immigrant and refugee families in Massachusetts are carrying an enormous weight. Increased enforcement, the loss of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for many families, including many with children who are U.S. citizens, and constant federal policy shifts are taking a real toll on mental health. Meanwhile, people seeking help face long wait times, language gaps, insurance … Continued

TPS for Ukraine and Sudan still valid

TPS for Ukraine and Sudan still valid Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections are still in effect for TPS holders from Ukraine and Sudan. The TPS designation for Ukraine and Sudan was set to expire on October 19, 2026. However, the Trump Administration has not announced whether the designation will be terminated or extended. Until further … Continued

Presidential Debate Recap and Federal Policy Updates

Blog

While immigration, and the lives of thousands of families, has proven to be a polarizing issue in the upcoming election, this Tuesday’s presidential debate showed that the national conversation lacks any serious discussion about either facts or policy solutions. The stage was set before the debate when Senator and Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance spread … Continued

MIRA Coalition to receive additional grant of $1.8 million to support organizations aiding immigrant and refugee arrivals

News

Initial 2023-2024 grant helped over 800 immigrant households receive key services  Boston, MA – After successfully providing more than 800 immigrant households with key services including asylum application assistance, work authorization application assistance, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) application assistance, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition is now sub-granting $1.8 million to 15 … Continued

Update on the Massachusetts Shelter Crisis: Families Left Without Shelter Sleep Outside Wollaston MBTA Station

Blog

The recent changes to the Massachusetts Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system have directly led to a worsening crisis, exemplified by 50 Haitian immigrants, including children and infants, sleeping outside the Wollaston MBTA station in Quincy. These changes, introduced by the Healey Administration at the beginning of August, have drastically limited access to state shelters, forcing … Continued

Federal Update: Parole In Place

Blog

On Monday, the Biden Administration began accepting applications for the new Parole in Place program that would reduce barriers to a green card for 500,000 people across the country (see MIRA’s Fact Sheet). While the new “Parole in Place” program does not create a new pathway to US citizenship (only Congress can do that), it … Continued

MIRA Coalition to Receive Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds to Improve Immigrant and Refugee Access to Healthcare 

News

Boston, MA – As a part of their effort to bolster access to equitable healthcare and confront systemic barriers to care, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has announced the 2024 awards of the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds (the Funds).  With these awards, DPH, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA) … Continued

State Policy Updates – formal legislative session ends with PPA in limbo, state budget delivers on policy, but restrained on funding

Blog

Formal legislative session ends with PPA in limbo The formal legislative session ended last week without House and Senate negotiators reaching agreement on a number of major pending bills – including the economic development bond bill (the Mass Leads Act) that contained Physician Pathway Act legislation, a MIRA priority that enjoyed remarkable progress and support … Continued

Massachusetts Gained Nearly $650 Million in State and Local Tax Revenue from Immigrants without Status, Study Finds

News

Granting work authorization would have increased sum to nearly $850 million Boston, MA – Immigrants without status contributed nearly $650 million in state and local taxes to Massachusetts in 2022 according to a new study published by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a non-partisan, non-profit tax policy organization. The study also notes … Continued