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Community Readiness in the Face of ICE Arrests

President Trump campaigned on a threat to deport one million immigrants from this country per year.  We saw an ongoing escalation of the numbers of immigrants targeted in Massachusetts throughout 2025 and continuing into early this year, but still well below deporting one million people.  However, this is beginning to change. Over this past year … Continued

Back to School: What Immigrant Families Should Know

As immigration enforcement increases across the country and protections such as Temporary Protected Status end for some countries, many immigrant families are living with fear and uncertainty. That fear is affecting whether some children make it to school. Recent data show that 17% of parents cited ICE activity near schools as a barrier to attendance. And that … Continued
Policy Update Federal

Policy Updates – 5/14/26

Policy Updates

The administration announced that David Venturella, a former executive at the GEO Group, will replace Todd Lyons as the acting head of ICE. Venturella left the GEO Group in 2023 and has recently been working at ICE overseeing detention contracts.  Relatedly, a recent analysis by Politico found that federal judges have ruled against mandatory detention … Continued

Immigrant-Owned Businesses Are Powering Massachusetts, And They Deserve Protection

Immigrant-Owned Businesses Are Powering  Massachusetts, And They Deserve Protection

Blog

Across Massachusetts, immigrant entrepreneurs are a driving force behind our economy. They open restaurants, launch biotech firms, and staff our hospitals. Immigrants anchor the small businesses that line our Main Streets. As our nation nears the 250 year-mark of American entrepreneurship, their contributions deserve both recognition and robust policy support. MIRA Coalition Executive Director Liz … Continued

Action Alert Support Immigrant Protections in the Annual State Budget

Action Alert – Support Immigrant Protections in the Annual State Budget!

News

  On May 5th, the Massachusetts Senate released its proposed FY27 annual budget for debate and passage later this month. Right now, state senators have made their budget priorities known to Senate leadership. Ask your state senators to vote in favor of MIRA’s FY27 Senate Budget Amendments that help protect immigrants against deportation: Amendment # … Continued

Policy Update Federal

Policy Updates – 5/7/26

Policy Updates

The administration’s assaults on residents with status continue as they delay employment authorization renewals for DACA recipients. Applicants, who have filed timely applications for renewal, are seeing processing times 5 times longer than last year. These processing delays mean that many are not receiving decisions in a timely manner, meaning they are being fired from … Continued

TPS Justice for All: MIRA joins hundreds of advocates in Washington, D.C.

TPS Justice for All: MIRA joins hundreds of advocates in Washington, D.C.

Blog

Last week MIRA staff joined a bus of passionate Massachusetts advocates to travel to Washington D.C. to support immigrant families affected by the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and Syria. Organized by National TPS committee, the Massachusetts TPS committee and La Colaborativa, the 400+ mile journey was full of … Continued

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition Applauds Senate Passage of PROTECT Act

News

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

Blog

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)

News

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

Blog

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

News

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