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Author: Laura Perras

Featured Author: Laura Perras

The Impact of ICE Enforcement on Massachusetts Communities

How ICE enforcement operations have detrimentally affected our communities ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement operations under the second term of the Trump administration have detrimentally affected our communities, and the harm impacts everyone: citizens and lawful permanent residents as well as undocumented individuals across the United States.  For nearly two years, we have watched … Continued

Policy Updates – 10/15/2026

On September 30, the Massachusetts District Court issued an order staying certain provisions of an Interim Final Rule issued by the Trump administration regarding the collection of civil penalties for certain immigration-related violations.  Under the rule, DHS issued fines of up to $1.8 million to individuals for failure to depart. The court found that the … Continued

Cut Off From Care 

Thousands of Massachusetts Immigrants Lose Health Coverage Under New Federal Law Contributed by MIRA’s Access and Resources Specialist Catherine Ramirez Mejia On July 4, 2025, Congress passed the HR1 (referred to by the Trump administration as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3)”), introducing sweeping cuts to federal healthcare programs. Some restrictions, such as those on … Continued
The Impact of ICE Enforcement on Massachusetts Communities

The Impact of ICE Enforcement on Massachusetts Communities

MIRA Coalition Blog

How ICE enforcement operations have detrimentally affected our communities ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) enforcement operations under the second term of the Trump administration have detrimentally affected our communities, and the harm impacts everyone: citizens and lawful permanent residents as well as undocumented individuals across the United States.  For nearly two years, we have watched … Continued

MIRA POLICY UPDATE

Policy Updates – 10/15/2026

Policy Updates

On September 30, the Massachusetts District Court issued an order staying certain provisions of an Interim Final Rule issued by the Trump administration regarding the collection of civil penalties for certain immigration-related violations.  Under the rule, DHS issued fines of up to $1.8 million to individuals for failure to depart. The court found that the … Continued

Cut Off From Care 

MIRA Coalition Blog

Thousands of Massachusetts Immigrants Lose Health Coverage Under New Federal Law Contributed by MIRA’s Access and Resources Specialist Catherine Ramirez Mejia On July 4, 2025, Congress passed the HR1 (referred to by the Trump administration as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3)”), introducing sweeping cuts to federal healthcare programs. Some restrictions, such as those on … Continued

MIRA POLICY UPDATE

Policy Updates 10/8/2026

Policy Updates

After eliminating legal services funding for tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors, the Trump Administration has now decided that its own lawyers will represent these children in immigration court. The Department of Health and Human Services quietly announced last week the creation of a new Unaccompanied Alien Children Legal Representation Division that will work towards … Continued

MIRA MASSACHUSETTS IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE ADVOCACY COALITION

MIRA Coalition Responds to Trump Administration’s Elimination of Funding

News

BOSTON, MA –  In response to the announcement made by the Trump administration eliminating $1 billion in immigrant services, of which the MIRA Coalition previously received $300,000, Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, issued the following statement: “The Trump administration continues to target immigrants in its ongoing efforts … Continued

MIRA's Branding Refresh Renewing our commitment, Celebrating Strength and Resolve as a Coalition

MIRA’s Branding Refresh

Blog

Renewing Our Commitment and Celebrating Strength and Resolve as a Coalition For almost 40 years, MIRA has stood with immigrant and refugee communities across Massachusetts. As we’ve grown, it became clear it was time for a new look, one that moves beyond our state-shaped logo. We wanted our new branding to encompass the values underpinning … Continued

MIRA POLICY UPDATE

Policy Updates 9/25/2026

Policy Updates

The White House had secretly created a new agency within the State Department, the Office of Remigration. While the name of the agency is troubling enough – “remigration” is a term used by European White Nationalists as a euphemism for expelling people of color – the purpose of the new agency shines a horrid light … Continued

MIRA POLICY UPDATE

Policy Updates – 9/17/26

Policy Updates

With the administration’s new Public Charge rule set to go into effect on September 18, 22 states filed suit in federal court earlier this week in order to stop the rule. In their complaint, the states argue that the new rule “removes any meaningful guidance” regarding what USCIS officers may consider and that the administration … Continued

Hispanic Heritage Month: The Freedom We Carry Across Borders Contributed by Luciano Paskevicius, Family Advocate & Community Ambassador, Lowell Alliance

Hispanic Heritage Month: The Freedom We Carry Across Borders

MIRA Coalition Blog

En español The Freedom We Carry Across Borders contributed by Luciano Paskevicius, Lowell Alliance When people speak about Hispanic Heritage Month, the conversation often turns to food, music, language, and traditions. Those things matter, but for me, heritage lives somewhere deeper. It lives in the values and political ideas we carry from one generation to … Continued