Immigration

Immigrants face substantial barriers when trying to survive and thrive in the United States.

MLRI secures and defends the social and economic rights of low-income immigrants in Massachusetts through coalition building, impact litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, and partnership with community leaders.

Our immigrant advocacy focuses on:

defending against unfair and discriminatory federal policies that unfairly target immigrants, particularly immigrants of color, and harm immigrant children, and divide immigrant families.
developing and coordinating statewide strategies to respond to the immediate legal needs of immigrants whenever harmful federal immigration policies are proposed.
ensuring fair and equal treatment and due process by immigration authorities regardless of immigration status, by federal, state and local government entities.
protecting the economic rights of immigrants, including eligibility and access to critical safety net programs.
acquiring and preserving legal immigration status and the ability to work in the U.S.
expanding college access and removing barriers to higher education for low income immigrant youth.

[A]ll persons within the territory of the United States are entitled to the protection guaranteed (sic) by those amendments, and [shall not] be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”

Wong Wing v. United States, 163 U.S. 228, 238 (1896)