In May 2023, The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition received a $1.75 million grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to pilot an Immigrant Assistance Services Program (IAS).

About the Program

MIRA’s Immigrant Assistance Services (IAS) program provides targeted legal and case management support to newly arrived immigrants residing in Massachusetts’ emergency assistance (EA) hotel and motel shelters that were in operation as of 6/26/23. IAS case managers will work with program attorneys to ensure that every family referred through the program receives:

  • A free legal consultation with an experienced immigration attorney
  • Help applying for a work permit (if eligible)
  • Help with changes of address, motions to change venue, Freedom of Information Act requests and other legal triage needs
  • Support around benefit eligibility and enrollment
  • Help communicating with legal partners and completing any follow up work requested by the attorney
  • Some families served by this program will also receive help in filing pro se asylum applications. 

 Eligibility:

To be eligible for our services, families must:

  • Have arrived to the U.S. in the past 5 years
  • Currently residing in one of the designated EA hotel/motel Shelters. For inquiries about which shelters qualify, please contact IAS@miracoalition.org
  • Not already represented by a licensed attorney or DOJ Accredited Representative

 Point of Contact: 

  • Please email us at IAS@miracoalition.org

Volunteer with us!

MIRA is looking for volunteers to ensure this program runs smoothly and successfully. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out our Volunteer application here.

Contact Kate Froehlich, kfroehlich@miracoalition.org with any questions. 

 

(IAS) in the media

  • Mass.Gov (Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.75 Million for New Immigrant Assistance Services Program)
  • WBUR (Mass allocates nearly $2M to organizations helping immigrants and refugees)
  • WGBH Basic Black: New Arrivals and Immigrants Interview. Watch the panel discussion here.