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Author: Laura Perras

Featured Author: Laura Perras

Policy Updates – 9/17/26

With the administration’s new Public Charge rule set to go into effect on September 18, 22 states filed suit in federal court earlier this week in order to stop the rule. In their complaint, the states argue that the new rule “removes any meaningful guidance” regarding what USCIS officers may consider and that the administration … Continued

Hispanic Heritage Month: The Freedom We Carry Across Borders

En español The Freedom We Carry Across Borders contributed by Luciano Paskevicius, Lowell Alliance When people speak about Hispanic Heritage Month, the conversation often turns to food, music, language, and traditions. Those things matter, but for me, heritage lives somewhere deeper. It lives in the values and political ideas we carry from one generation to … Continued
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition Applauds Senate Passage of PROTECT Act

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BOSTON — The Massachusetts Senate today passed its version of the PROTECT Act, advancing critical legislation to safeguard civil rights and limit state and local collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. The PROTECT Act (S. 3072), would establish clear, statewide standards governing interactions between local authorities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The bill aims to … Continued

#TakenByICE – Story Collection and Poster Initiative

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People are being taken without warning or judicial warrants.They are being indefinitely imprisoned in deplorable conditions for alleged civil violations, without representation, and without a chance to notify their families. They are frequently moved across the country, isolating them from their families and social support networks. We refuse to let that be normal. Help us … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

PRESS STATEMENT: MIRA Coalition Testifies Before U.S. Senate in  Support of Immigrant Businesses (in multiple languages)

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BOSTON, MA –  April 29, 2026 Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for the American Entrepreneurship for 250 Years: Driving Innovation, Growth and Opportunity hearing. Sweet issued the following statement: “Throughout American history, immigrants have significantly contributed … Continued

The Privilege of the Law: A Journey from Damascus to Massachusetts By Abeer Massri - Managing Attorney, ATASK

The Privilege of the Law: A Journey from Damascus to Massachusetts By Abeer Massri – Managing Attorney at MIRA Coalition memberATASK

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I often wonder if those born into the American legal system can truly feel the air they breathe. At Damascus University’s School of Law, we were taught that justice is a sacred trust. However, until late 2024, under the previous authoritarian system, enforcing equal and just laws for all was often impossible in practice. Witnessing … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Liên minh MIRA làm chứng trước Thượng viện Hoa Kỳ nhằm ủng hộ các doanh nghiệp của người nhập cư

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BOSTON, MA – Hôm nay, Bà Elizabeth Sweet, Giám đốc Điều hành Liên minh Vận động cho Người nhập cư và Người tị nạn Massachusetts (MIRA), đã làm chứng trước Ủy ban Doanh nghiệp Nhỏ và Khởi nghiệp của Thượng viện Hoa Kỳ (U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship) trong phiên điều trần … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

MIRA Coalition ផ្តល់សក្ខីកម្មនៅចំពោះមុខព្រឹទ្ធសភាសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ដើម្បីគាំទ្រអាជីវកម្មរបស់ជនអន្តោប្រវេសន៍

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បូស្តុន រដ្ឋ MA – ថ្ងៃនេះ Elizabeth Sweet នាយិកាប្រតិបត្តិនៃ Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition បានផ្តល់សក្ខីកម្មនៅចំពោះមុខគណៈកម្មាធិការព្រឹទ្ធសភាសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកស្តីពីអាជីវកម្មខ្នាតតូច និងសហគ្រិនភាព (U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship) សម្រាប់សវនាការ “American Entrepreneurship for 250 Years: Driving Innovation, Growth and Opportunity” (សហគ្រិនភាពអាមេរិករយៈពេល 250 ឆ្នាំ៖ ជំរុញនវានុវត្តន៍ កំណើន និងឱកាស)។ Sweet បានចេញសេចក្តីថ្លែងការណ៍ដូចខាងក្រោម៖ «ពេញមួយប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រអាមេរិក ជនអន្តោប្រវេសន៍បានរួមចំណែកយ៉ាងសំខាន់ដល់ភាពរុងរឿង និងកំណើនសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរបស់ប្រទេសយើង។ ជាញឹកញាប់ពេក ជនអន្តោប្រវេសន៍ប្រឈមនឹងឧបសគ្គចំពោះការរួមបញ្ចូលពេញលេញក្នុងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ដែលជំរុញឱ្យពួកគេចាប់ផ្តើមអាជីវកម្មផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន ដោយផ្អែកលើភាពប៉ិនប្រសប់ និងមហិច្ឆតារបស់ពួកគេ។ នៅក្នុងរដ្ឋ Massachusetts តែប៉ុណ្ណោះ … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

MIRA联盟在美国参议院作证，支持移民企业

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马萨诸塞州波士顿 – 今天，马萨诸塞州移民与难民权益倡导联盟（MIRA）执行主任伊丽莎白·斯威特（Elizabeth Sweet）在美国参议院小企业与创业委员会举行的《美国创业250年：推动创新、增长与机遇》听证会上出席作证。 斯威特发表了以下声明： “纵观美国历史，移民为我国的繁荣与经济增长做出了重要贡献。然而，移民往往面临全面融入经济的重重障碍，这促使他们凭借自身的才智与抱负自主创业。仅在马萨诸塞州，移民每年就为该州经济贡献约1300亿美元，并占全州企业主的28%。由移民创立和经营的企业不仅推动了我们共同的繁荣，也确保了我们保持竞争力。移民带来了创造力、适应能力、新思想和创新精神。我们必须确保我们的国家是一个移民企业家能够继续蓬勃发展的地方。”

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

MIRA Coalition Testifica ante el Senado de EE. UU. en Apoyo a los Negocios de Inmigrantes

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BOSTON, MA – Elizabeth Sweet, Directora Ejecutiva de la Coalición de Defensa de Inmigrantes y Refugiados de Massachusetts (MIRA), testificó ante el Comité del Senado de EE. UU. sobre Empresas Pequeñas y Emprendimiento en la audiencia Emprendimiento Americano en 250 Años: Impulsando la Innovación, el Crecimiento y las Oportunidades. Sweet emitió la siguiente declaración: “A … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Koalisyon MIRA Temwaye Devan Sena Ameriken an pou Sipòte Biznis Imigran yo

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BOSTON, MA – Jodi a, Elizabeth Sweet, Direktris Egzekitif Koalisyon pou Defans Imigran ak Refijye Massachusetts (MIRA), te temwaye devan Komite Sena Ameriken sou Ti Biznis ak Antreprenè nan odiyans Antreprenèrya Ameriken pou 250 Ane: Pouse Inovasyon, Devlopman ak Opòtinite. Sweet te bay deklarasyon sa a: “Pandan tout istwa Ameriken an, imigran yo te kontribye … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

A Coalizão MIRA Presta Depoimento ao Senado dos EUA em Apoio às Empresas de Imigrantes

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BOSTON, MA – Hoje, Elizabeth Sweet, Diretora Executiva da Coalizão de Defesa de Imigrantes e Refugiados de Massachusetts (MIRA), prestou depoimento perante o Comitê do Senado dos EUA sobre Pequenas Empresas e Empreendedorismo na audiência Empreendedorismo Americano em 250 Anos: Impulsionando a Inovação, o Crescimento e as Oportunidades. Sweet fez a seguinte declaração: “Ao longo … Continued