In the face of unprecedented violence and attacks on immigrants, Massachusetts legislators and Governor Healey took action. The PROTECT Act ensures that the rights of all Massachusetts residents are protected under the Massachusetts Constitution and Massachusetts law.
Tenant and immigrant rights groups condemn proposal that could force tens of thousands of families from their homes, urge government to immediately withdraw proposal
Greater Boston Legal Services, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, The Legal Aid Society, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants, and the National Housing Law Project issued the following statement marking the close of the comment period on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) proposed rule targeting mixed-status families, which puts tens of thousands of households at risk of losing their homes:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 31, 2026
Contact:
press@democracyforward.org
press@mlri.org
Court Blocks Trump-Vance Administration’s Unlawful Mass Termination of Noncitizens’ Parole Status
Ruling Restores Lawful Status for Hundreds of Thousands Who Followed the Rules
Suit challenges DHS, CBP, USCIS for abruptly stripping thousands of immigrants of legal status, work authorization, and benefits without due process.
BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), together with Democracy Forward, is filing a suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of the Venezuelan Association of Massachusetts and three individuals from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti, challenging a new policy implemented by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that abruptly and unlawfully strips immigrants of their parole status and work authorization.
For Immediate Release
For more information: Madeline Graf: mgraf@mlri.org | (857) 241-1745
President Trump and Congress Strip Food and Health Insurance from Millions of Residents
Massachusetts must marshall its resources to mitigate harm and protect its residents from the unconscionable impacts of the reconciliation bill
BOSTON, MA (July 4, 2025) – Today, President Trump signed a bill from Republicans in Congress that cuts the largest amount from food assistance and healthcare in history - all to pay for tax cuts for wealthy corporations and billionaires.
Statement of Georgia D. Katsoulomitis,
Executive Director of Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)
In Response to Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Against Haitian Community
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit poverty law organization that does not endorse any political candidate. At the same time, as an organization grounded in social, racial and economic justice, we do not and cannot turn a blind eye to injustice.
We cannot remain silent in the face of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance’s relentless, baseless and racist attacks upon all immigrants – and currently against the Haitian people, so many of whom are our cherished friends, neighbors and co-workers in Massachusetts.
La Colaborativa, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition praise food assistance for families at a time of need
BOSTON, MA: Members of the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition, formed in January 2023 to address the basic unmet needs of legally present low income immigrant families in Massachusetts, lauded the General Court and Governor for passing a Supplemental Budget on December 4th that provides $6 million in state funding to restore basic benefits to legal immigrants ineligible for federal benefits.
For Massachusetts residents seeking legal advice and information:
For legal services advocates and attorneys: