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MIRA, Dreamers and TPS holders hail historic U.S. House vote

The U.S. House of Representatives tonight approved the Dream and Promise Act, H.R. 6, which would provide permanent residency and a path to citizenship for more than 2.5 million immigrants across the nation, including over 45,000 in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts delegation was unanimous in its support, and as chair of the House Rules Committee, U.S. Rep. … Continued

Immigration proposal doubles down on hard-right positions

Today President Trump announced a new immigration proposal that reflects his long-standing priorities, including a shift from family-based to “merit-based” legal immigration, weakening of protections for asylum-seekers, and more investments in his border wall. Based on the details reported so far, MIRA Executive Eva A. Millona has the following comment: “The proposal outlined today offers … Continued

House FY2020 budget supports key investments in our diverse Commonwealth

Today the House Committee on Ways and Means unveiled a $42.7 billion budget for fiscal year 2020 that includes vital investments in immigrant integration, as well as $2 million for community outreach to ensure that all Massachusetts residents are counted in the 2020 U.S. Census. “With this budget, House leadership sends a powerful message that our Commonwealth … Continued

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Dream and Promise Act is an important step forward for Congress

Today on Capitol Hill, House leadership unveiled H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, which would provide permanent protection and a path to citizenship to Dreamers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). The bill, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Lucille Royce-Allard (D-CA), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY), builds on … Continued

White House proposal cannot be taken seriously

The President continues to demand $5.7 billion for a wall in exchange for ending the shutdown, and his offers on DACA and TPS are woefully inadequate. Today President Trump offered a proposal to end the government shutdown, now on its 29th day, by exchanging the $5.7 billion he has demanded for a border wall – … Continued

How to make the most of Worcester’s global talent pool?

As President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tim Murray represents a wide range of business leaders, more than 2,000 in all. But despite their diversity, they share a common challenge. “The single biggest issue that I hear from our members… is the need for a motivated, educated workforce,” Murray said. And … Continued

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For Thanksgiving, stories of hope, struggle and resilience in America

At Our Shared Table 2018, speakers urged immigrants and refugees to ‘dream big’ and define their own identity, while calling on elected officials to bring Massachusetts realities closer to its ideals. Iván Espinoza-Madrigal was 9 when he came to the U.S. from Costa Rica. His mother worked for minimum wage so he could get an … Continued

An important reprieve for TPS holders – but Congress still must act

Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen granted a preliminary injunction preventing the federal government from ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua. The ruling, in a case filed last March by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and other advocates, provides a much-needed reprieve for hundreds of thousands … Continued

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Business leaders launch coalition to advance sensible immigration policies

Leaders from some of Massachusetts’ top business sectors came together today to launch the Massachusetts Business Coalition on Immigration, focused on advancing federal and state policies that enable talent from around the world to continue to thrive in our Commonwealth. “From high tech to construction, health care to hospitality, immigrants are vital to Massachusetts’ economy,” … Continued