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Massachusetts Immigration and Refugee Advocacy Coalition

Full steam ahead towards a 21st-century immigration system!

Dear MIRA members, supporters and allies,

Last week, President Biden continued to build on his commitment to reform our dysfunctional immigration system in a way that centers empathy, inclusiveness, and justice. With the confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security – the first immigrant and first Latino to hold this critical position – the Biden administration has wasted no time undoing the unworkable policies of the past four years and laying the foundation for a 21st-century immigration system. You can read MIRA’s statement on Secretary Mayorkas’ confirmation
here.

Some of the actions President Biden took last week include:
  • Ordering a review of the public charge regulation. You can read our statement with the Massachusetts Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign here.
  • Establishing an interagency task force on family reunification
  • Restoring the United States’ refugee admissions program, including raising admissions to 125,000 for the first full fiscal year of the Biden-Harris administration
  • Reestablishing the Task Force on New Americans, which was an important vehicle for our advocacy during the Obama administration
  • Ordering the development of a plan to eliminate barriers to naturalization, including reducing processing times, reducing the naturalization fee, and restoring fee waivers
  • Ordering the preparation of a “root causes strategy” to make recommendations for addressing causes of migration, violence and economic insecurity
  • Ordering a review of asylum policies and regulations, including the Migration Protection Protocols (Remain in Mexico) Program, and withdrawing several harmful asylum related policies
  • Ordering a review of President Trump’s expedited removal procedures

You can read MIRA’s summaries of these actions here.

While we are thrilled with this progress, there is still much work to be done and advocates must remain vigilant in each step of the policy-making process. MIRA will continue advocating for our priorities with the Biden administration and our Congressional partners – as well as at the state level here in Massachusetts – and will keep you updated. Thank you for your partnership during this chapter of opportunity for immigrant and refugee communities.
 
With deep appreciation,

Eva Millona

 
- MIRA Weekly Updates -


ACTION ALERT: Cosponsorship drives are underway! If you haven’t already, ask your state legislator to cosponsor the Safe Communities Act and the Work and Family mobility Act. We’ve made it easy for you!
Take Action for SCA
Take Action for WFMA

Help Immigrant Communities During the Pandemic: Train for a Healthcare Job & Earn While You Learn! MIRA is proud to announce the launch of our Bilingual Community Health Outreach Worker Training Program, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). This six-month program will train and employ bilingual Community Health Outreach Workers to assist BPHC with public health outreach and education in Boston’s immigrant and minority neighborhoods during COVID-19. Program participants will also receive career advising, education guidance, and job search support from the MIRA Coalition program coordinator. Click below to learn more and apply – and please spread the word! 


New England Business Summit on Immigration: MIRA is proud to be a sponsor of the New England Business Summit on Immigration taking place virtually on Friday, February 19th at 11:30 am. The summit is hosted by MIRA, the Massachusetts Business Immigration Coalition, the American Business Immigration Coalition, the Eos Foundation, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. We’re thrilled that Senator Ed Markey will be our keynote speaker. You don’t want to miss this – register now! 


English for New Bostonians is supporting two upcoming English for Immigrant Entrepreneurs classes in partnership with the Gardner Pilot Academy Education Program (GPA) and the YMCA International Learning Center. The classes will empower immigrants to improve their English, digital literacy, and business skills and increase their earnings and financial security. Classes will be held REMOTELY on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from February - June 2021. Please contact Nicolasa Lopez at nlopez@bostonpublicschools.org or 857-389-2120 or Michelle Duval at m.duval@live.com or 857-928-6828 to register. 
 
- News -

Dorchester Reporter: Miranda: Law needed to ‘rebuild’ trust in immigrant communities

 

USA Today: Alejandro Mayoras becomes first Latino, first immigrant to lead Department of Homeland Security

 

Washington Post: When local police cooperate with ICE, Latino communities under-report crime. Here’s the data.


 
- MIRA Member Spotlight  -


For Black History Month, we will be continuing to feature MIRA members who have made outstanding contributions in their work to represent and serve the Black community. This week: African Bridge Network!
 

African Bridge Network (ABN) provides career development support and resources for African immigrants across the Commonwealth. They offer professional networking and mentorship opportunities, as well as career advising.


If you’re interested in learning more or receiving help from a trained career advisor, please call 617-600-8132 or visit their website.

Thank You! 


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