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The MIRA Bulletin
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Press Statement: U.S. Supreme Court Stops Misuse of “Identity Theft” Law against Undocumented Immigrants The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy
Coalition (MIRA) applauds the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision yesterday in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, which
rejected government attempts to stretch criminal law in prosecutions of
immigrant workers. Federal authorities
have been charging immigrant workers who use false documents to secure
employment with aggravated identity theft, a charge that carries a mandatory 2
year prison sentence. The Supreme Court
ruling means that immigrants cannot be convicted under the statute unless they
knew that the documents in question belonged to another person. Read More... The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) applauds the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision yesterday in Flores-Figueroa v. United States, which rejected government attempts to stretch criminal law in prosecutions of immigrant workers. Federal authorities have been charging immigrant workers who use false documents to secure employment with aggravated identity theft, a charge that carries a mandatory 2 year prison sentence. The Supreme Court ruling means that immigrants cannot be convicted under the statute unless they knew that the documents in question belonged to another person. Read More... Massachusetts Mourns Binghamton Victims The MIRA Coalition and the immigrant communities of Massachusetts would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and the Binghamton community in wake of this horrific tragedy. Read More... PS NY Times Confirms Obama's Commitment to Immigration Reform In a front page lead story today, The New York Times confirmed President Obama’s intention to reform immigration this year. A senior administration official told the paper of the president’s commitment to build “an orderly system,” including finding a way to bring undocumented workers onto the path of legalization. “He intends to start the debate this year,” said the official, Cecilia Muñoz, deputy assistant to the president and director of the White House’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Read More... Press Statement: President Obama Reiterates Promise for Immigration Reform Boston, MA – Earlier today, President Obama met with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss the issue of immigration reform. During the meeting, President Obama reiterated his support for comprehensive immigration reform and announced that he will make a public statement in May that will lay out his plans for a just and humane reform. Read More... PS New Administration, Same Old Destructive Immigration Enforcement Tactics Boston, MA- Yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents descended on an engine remanufacturing plant in Bellingham, Washington, 2 hours north of Seattle. ICE arrested 28 people, including 3 mothers, from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, put them in handcuffs and then into deportation proceedings. Read More... Press Release: Mayor, English Works Campaign Award 11 Businesses and Labor Management Partnerships for Support of English language classes for Immigrant Workforce Boston – On February 18th, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the English Works Campaign awarded the first 'City of Boston/ English Works Campaign Certificate of Recognition' to 11 unique local businesses and labor management partnerships for their support of English language classes for immigrants in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Other key labor, community, and educational partners were also recognized. Read More... MIRA Press Statement: No Place for Racial Profiling Boston, MA – The New York Times recently printed an article concerning the enforcement efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the article, the focus of ICE’s work has been to track down and arrest people with criminal records, the number of people arrested who do not have criminal records has risen to 40 percent. Yet, the amount of funding allocated to this department by Congress has grown to $625 million dollars. Read More... Press Statement: Immigrant Community Celebrates Obama's Signing of New Children's Health Bill Boston, MA - Late this afternoon, President Obama will sign into law the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which reauthorizes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). CHIPRA includes the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act (ICHIA), which gives states the option to lift the 5-year waiting period on new, legal immigrant children and pregnant women to make them eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP. Read More... Press Statement: Immigrant Communities React to New Boston, MA – On Friday, January 30th, Janet Napolitano, the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), issued a series of directives to review and assess many of the agencies policies with regard to immigration and border security. Read More...  New Workes, New Voters ReportFeb 14, 2008 - Today MIRA released its new report, New Workers, New Voters: Why Massachusetts Should Recruit, Retain, and Train Newcomers. The report highlights the economic and workforce challenges that face the Commonwealth, and the importance of immigrant workers in meeting those challenges.
New Report - Impact of Immigration Raids on ChildrenWed Oct 31 - The National Council of La Raza and the Urban Institute released a new report on the impact of immigration raids on children. Featured prominently in the report is the March 6th raid at the Michael Bianco factory in New Bedford. The report, Paying the Price: The Impact of Immigration Raids on America's Children, details the consequences of raids on the children's psychological, educational, economic, and social wellbeing. MIRA and the National Association of Social Workers, MA Chapter (NASWMA) hosted a press conference on Wednesday to release this national report locally. Organizations represented included NASWMA, the MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, UMASS Boston, the Gaston Institute, Community Economic Development Center, the MA School of Professional Psychology, and Greater Boston Legal Services. Download full report here.
New Report on English Skills Requirement in Greater Boston Labor MarketNovember 21 - The Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University is releasing a new report on the growing need for English language proficiency in the changing labor market. The report finds that the workforce in Greater Boston is increasingly diverse ethnically and racially, and the foreign-born population has low levels of English proficiency. The study also found that the majority of jobs in the labor market to require at least medium-low English skills. Occupations requiring more language skills pay significantly more than occupations requiring less language skills, and this relationship among English skills, job availability, and wages will likely become more pronounced between now and 2014. Find out more about English language programs as an investment in the MA workforce. De-bunking Immigration Myths"They Take Our Jobs!": And 20 Other Myths about Immigration is a timely guide that debunks the twenty-one biggest myths and stereotypes in today's immigration debate. Order your book here. Enter "MIRA" as the discount code, and receive a 10% discount! Beacon Press, the local progressive non-profit publisher is donating part of the proceeds to MIRA when you use the discount code! Please get informed while helping to support our work. Desmintiendo Mitos sobre la Inmigración "They Take Our Jobs!": And 20 Other Myths about Immigration/ "Toman nuestros trabajos!: 20 mitos acerca de la inmigracion. Es una guía actualizada que desmiente 21 mitos grandes y estereotipos en el debate actual migratorio. Order your book here/ Ordena tu libro aquí. Entracon la palabra"MIRA" para acceder al código de descuento y recibirás un 10% de descuento! en Beacon Press, la editorial local progresista sin fines de lucro que estara donando una parte proporcional a MIRA cuando uses el codigo de descuento! Por favor este informado mientras apoya nuestro trabajo!  Reform Immigration for America The Campaign to
Reform Immigration for
The campaign connects people from communities across the country who are ready to work together towards achieving the 279 votes needed to win just and humane comprehensive immigration reform legislation: 218 votes in the House of Representatives, 60 votes in the Senate, and one signature from the President.
Now, it is time to
join forces! And MIRA will be On the Road to 279 Tour across
MIRA's Organizing team will be visiting you and your
organization and your participation is crucial to pass the reform this year!
Please R.S.V.P and join our
organizing team!
WORCESTER &
REGION 7pm Co-sponsor by July 8 5pm 25
For additional information and to R.S.V.P., please contact Marcony Almeida (Director or Organizing) at 617-350-5480, ext. 205 (malmeida@miracoalition.org) or Erik Balsbaugh (Campaign Organizer) at 617-350-5480, ext. 207 (ebalsbaugh@miracoalition.org). Give Liberty a Hand 2009
MIRA’s annual Give Liberty a Hand Gala, which took place this past Tuesday, June 2nd, was a huge success. This event honored those in the community who, day in and day out, fight for the rights and opportunities of immigrants and refugees. This year we honored four individuals, Milagros Abreu, Robert J. Hildreth, Maria Jobin-Leeds, and Martha Vasconcellos and one foundation, the Four Freedoms Fund. During this difficult economic climate the support and dedication of individuals, foundations, elected-officials, and public and private organizations regarding the well being of refugees and immigrants in the Commonwealth was stronger than ever.
On the Road to 279: Pittsfield
On June 18th, MIRA’s On the Road to 279 Tour
Across New England came to the
English Works Campaign Turns One
On June 25, the English Works Campaign had its One Year Anniversary meeting. Over 25 members attended the meeting and celebration. This unique coalition, which focuses on English proficiency for immigrants as a tool for economic self-sufficiency, has been a great success so far. We look forward to its continued achievements in the years to come. Please find more information about the Campaign here. |
Local Community Leaders Launch National Effort to Reform Immigration For America |
New-Workers-New-Voters-031008.pdf
