ACTION ALERT!

Let’s make sure our state legislature includes funding for immigrant legal defense in its final negotiated FY26 budget, which will be passed in early July!

Last month, nearly 1500 members of Massachusetts immigrant communities were detained by ICE. Last weekend an 18-year old teen was detained in Milford on his way to volleyball practice.

Without a lawyer, immigrants in detention are 10 times less likely to win relief from deportation. The House included this funding in its budget, and our state senators have an opportunity to advocate for its inclusion in the final FY26 budget during conference committee negotiations, which began last week.

Please urge your state Senator to advocate for this funding today! Take action: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/ilda/

Unlike in criminal cases, immigrants facing deportation proceedings are not guaranteed a court-appointed attorney if they cannot afford one. With a federal administration committed to the mass detention and deportation of immigrants, and a new Congress actively stripping away existing rights and privileges, the Commonwealth must urgently intervene to prevent the deportation of immigrants who live, work and pay taxes in Massachusetts. The Immigrant Legal Defense Act would create a public and private-funded program to provide no-cost immigration legal defense to immigrants in Massachusetts who are at imminent risk of deportation, especially those held in federal immigration detention. Download the Immigrant Legal Defense Act factsheet here ILDA Fact Sheet 2025-2026