Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
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Policy Recommendations for the Patrick-Murray Administration

Governor-Elect Deval L. Patrick has formed a number of working groups for the transition of administrations. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition is submitting testimony to the transition groups on behalf of immigrant communities and allies throughout the Commonwealth.

Read and download all of the policy briefs sent to the Transition Working Groups.

Submit your own testimony to the Patrick-Murray Transition Working Groups.

 

Civic Engagement

Over the course of 2006, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts witnessed an explosion in civic engagement by the immigrant community. Ranging from tens of thousands of individuals rallying over the Spring, to record turnout in New American communities in the recent primary and general elections, it is clear that an immigrant community has matured into an immigrant constituency.
We stress the following priorities to increase civic engagement among immigrant and refugee communities:

Increase funding to $2 million to Citizenship for New Americans

Support Election Day Registration

Increase opportunities for immigrants to participate in government

Select a significant number of immigrants and New Americans to top level gubernatorial appointments.

Download the full testimony on Civic Engagement here.

Higher Education

Higher education opportunities must be available to all immigrant graduates of Massachusetts high schools.

1. Implement and Enforce Nondiscriminatory Admissions Policy at all Public Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

2.Affordability and fairness

a. Reform state laws that apply to ensure tuition parity for Massachusetts high school graduates

b. Address affordability and fairness in the short term, pending statutory reforms, as follows: 1) Enforce current Massachusetts Board of Higher Education residence policies for the state college system and for the state community college system so that Lawfully Present Immigrants are eligible for in-state tuition under the same standards that apply to other state residents.

Download the full testimony on Higher Education here.

Workforce Development

We believe that the Commonwealth’s workforce development agenda should recognize the critical role that immigrants play at all levels of our state's economy, and that a failure to do so will have serious and long-term implications.  Immigrants comprise 17 percent of our workforce, and work at every level in every industry from retail to biotechnology to health care. Immigrants are an asset to our economy; our policy and services should recognize them as such.

It is essential to understand that the continuum of services for immigrants is different from those services needed for other workers and should include: the availability of English language, basic education and skills training in the community and in the workplace; fair and just employment; advancement; higher education; and access to citizenship. Special attention needs to be paid to the workforce development needs of the low-wage, working poor immigrant with limited English skills and less than a high school education. We stress the following priorities:

Increase funding to $40 million for ABE, including ESOL (item 7035-002

Monitor the Workforce Training Fund

Monitor implementation of the Workforce Solutions Act

Support equal access to higher education

Increase funding to $2 million to Citizenship for New Americans.

Increase funding to the Office of the Attorney General for the enforcement of wage and hour laws

Download full testimony on Workforce Development here.

Economic Development


The Commonwealth’s economic development agenda should recognize the critical role that immigrants play at all levels of our state's economy, as business owners, workers, consumers and taxpayers. Immigrants comprise 17 percent of our workforce. They work at all levels of every industry, from healthcare to biotech, from retail to banking. The Commonwealth’s ability to compete and to maintain its existing business sector will depend on our careful investment in the skills and education of all workers, including immigrants, and particularly those with limited English skills and less than a high school education.

Ensure immigrant entrepreneurs access to capital, technical assistance and other services

Increase funding to $40 million for ABE, including ESOL (item 7035-002)

Monitor the Workforce Training Fund and the new Workforce Competitiveness Trust

Download the full testimony on Economic Development here.

Local Government

Due to growing frustration with the lack of a working immigration system, many local governments have sought to “take matters in their own hands” and pass local ordinances targeting undocumented immigrants.  In Massachusetts, towns such as Sandwich, Milford, Everett and Weymouth have all seriously considered such proposals – to varying levels of success. There are legal, economic and social reasons to avoid this approach. Regardless of intent, local actions to “control” immigration are fraught with disadvantages and threaten the very fabric of our livelihoods.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts should:

Discourage local anti-immigrant ordinances and resolutions. Issue an executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin.

Discourage local law enforcement officers from acting as immigration agents. Issue an executive order to ensure that no state employee is charged with the enforcement of immigration law.

Download the full testimony on Local Government here.

Healthcare

The Commonwealth’s health agenda should recognize the critical need for the immigrant community to have access to culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health care. Obviously the implementation of Chapter 58 will be the centerpiece of the health agenda during the coming years. As implementation moves forward and decisions are made within the administration and the Commonwealth Connector Board, we would like to ensure that the effects of these decisions on the immigrant community are considered. The following is a list of priorities we will stress through the implementation process and beyond:

Targeted outreach to the immigrant community concerning the new health reform law in general and immigrant eligibility for Commonwealth Care in particular.

Protection of the Uncompensated Care Pool/Safety Net Care Trust Fund.

Monitoring the effect of the individual mandate on the immigrant community.

Include dental benefits for Commonwealth Care recipients between 100%-300% of the FPL.

Download the full testimony on Healthcare here.

Human Services

The Commonwealth’s human services agenda should recognize the critical importance of having a comprehensive safety net of services in place for the residents of Massachusetts as they move down a path toward self-sufficiency. A rational human services policy will ensure that legal immigrants are provided a continuum of services and supports ensuring their participation in the workforce and their continued progress toward self-sufficiency. As such we stress the following priorities:

Restoration of the state funded food stamp and state funded TAFDC (cash assistance) programs for legal immigrants who are non federally eligible.

Increase the benefit level of the Emergency Aid to the Elderly and Dependent Children program (EAEDC).

Protect immigrant victims of trafficking.

Download the full testimony on Human Services here

Public Safety

The U.S. debate on immigration has been characterized by a simplistic “human rights versus national security” paradigm that has inhibited serious discussion of the role of the U.S. immigration system in a coordinated national security strategy. The debate has been further hampered by the lack of public safety experts who understand the failures of our nation’s immigration system and subsequent reliance upon community policing to ensure the safety of all residents – regardless of immigration status. Recognizing that our immigration system is broken, and that deportation is not the solution, we must find realistic solutions to protect the public safety of all of our residents. As such we stress the following priorities:

Rescind MOU with US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) that grants State Troopers the authority to enforce immigration law. Create executive order to ensure that no state employee is charged with the enforcement of immigration law.

Create a commission to analyze fiscal implications of Real ID on our state’s economy and public safety  prior to implementation.

Protect immigrant victims of trafficking.

Ensure all drivers are trained, licensed and insured.

Download the full tesitmony on Public Safety here.

Download Testimony as submitted to the Patrick-Murray Transition Working Groups

For more information, please contact MIRA.