Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 4, 2025
FY26 state budget includes $5 million to provide immigrants at risk of deportation with legal counsel
BOSTON – The Protecting Our Immigrant Communities (POIC) campaign is celebrating the passage of $5 million in the FY26 state budget to help provide legal representation to immigrants at risk of deportation.
“Today, Massachusetts proudly showed how committed our state is to protecting immigrants and strengthening the right to due process,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. “While leaders in Washington continue their dangerous, baseless attacks against immigrants, we thank House Speaker Mariano and Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz, as well as Senate President Spilka and Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for supporting this crucial reform, and Governor Healey for signing it into law.”
Championed by Representative Frank Moran (D-Lawrence), Representative David Rogers (D-Cambridge), and Senator Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), the funding will help provide legal representation to immigrants at risk of deportation who cannot afford an attorney. Unlike in traditional court proceedings, where individuals are provided a lawyer if they cannot afford one, immigration court has no such guarantee. Currently, immigrants are five times more likely to win relief from deportation if they are represented by counsel. For those already detained, immigrants with a lawyer are 10 times more likely to win relief than those without one.
“The Trump administration is fast tracking mass deportations, disregarding due process, and instilling fear in Massachusetts communities,” said Carol Rose, Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts. “One of the key ways to fight back is to make sure no immigrant is forced to defend their life, liberty, or family without a lawyer by their side. Massachusetts leaders know this, and we are so grateful to Governor Healey, Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, House Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz, and Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues for investing in legal representation for immigrants in our state.”
“We’ve seen Trump and MAGA politicians blame immigrants for all of our problems while giving big tax breaks to billionaires and cutting funding for the essential services we all rely on. In contrast with that, we’re grateful to have Massachusetts leaders who, by allocating this funding, are standing in solidarity with immigrants and opposing the mass separation of families. Our country thrives when we embrace our shared values of freedom, opportunity, and dignity for everyone. Immigrant workers from all backgrounds – one in five of whom are essential workers – exemplify this hope and are vital to our nation’s progress. We hope to continue to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Governor and Legislature to fight back against the Trump agenda and protect our families and communities.” – Dave Foley, President of the SEIU State Council, which represents over 140K Massachusetts workers
Under the law, the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants will grant funds to qualified immigration legal service providers to provide free legal defense to eligible low-income immigrants. The state will work with non-profit partners to rigorously screen and assign cases and beneficiaries. The policy will focus on supporting immigrants already held in federal immigration detention.
The funding is inspired by the Immigrant Legal Defense Act, which was filed earlier this year as S.1127 by Senator Gomez and H.1954 by Representatives Moran and Rogers. The Immigrant Legal Defense Act would make permanent the system of providing immigrants at risk of deportation with legal representation. While the Protecting Our Immigrant Communities campaign is immensely grateful that policymakers advanced $5 million in funding for this program, they will continue to advocate for the Immigrant Legal Defense Act on Beacon Hill so immigrants should never need to worry about affording legal representation.
For media inquiries contact: Alex Psilakis | apsilakis@melwoodglobal.com