"Sen. Markey Introduces Bill To Halt Deportations & ICE Actions During Coronavirus Pandemic"

“BOSTON – With states continuing to experience alarming upticks in the number of new coronavirus infections, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced legislation to halt the Trump administration’s harmful immigration enforcement activities, including deportations, during the coronavirus pandemic to protect public health.

Continued arrests and apprehensions discourage immigrant communities from accessing services necessary for their health and well-being and contribute to dangerous crowding in immigration detention centers.”

NewspaperGuest UserJuly 18, 2020Immigration, ICE, Ed Markey

"Immigrants to gather outside Boston courthouse in protest of bid to end temporary protected status"

“BOSTON (WHDH) - Immigrants and activists plan to protest President Donald Trump’s bid to end temporary protected status (TPS) for thousands of immigrants.

TPS holders, other immigrants, The Mass. TPS Committee, The Brazilian Workers’ Center, and Massachusetts Jobs with Justice are expected to gather outside of the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston at noon — the same time Trump’s argument to end TPS is set to be reviewed by a California judge.

Roughly 320,000 families, including about 8,000 in Massachusetts, depend on TPS to remain in the community, according to protest organizers.”

NewspaperGuest UserAugust 14, 2019TPS, Immigration

"Residents Telling Congressman Lynch to Close Detention Camps"

“Local grassroots organization JP Progressives will be visiting Congressman Stephen Lynch's Boston office on July 25 to specifically ask him to close the immigrant detention camps on the southern border.

‘We are joining with other constituents in the district and hope to actually speak with Representative Lynch,’ said Anne Rousseau, co-chair of the JP Progressives.

‘The conditions at the detention camps are unacceptable and that has to change,’ said Molly Rose Tarpey, Director of Communications for Congressman Lynch, to Jamaica Plain News. ‘He believes that anyone in U.S. custody must be treated humanely and with dignity. In addition, the asylum cases need to be adjudicated expeditiously.’”

NewspaperGuest UserJuly 22, 2019Immigration, ICE, US-Mexico Border

"Migrant detention protest planned for Framingham on Friday"

“BOSTON - More than 30 vigils are planned across Massachusetts - including one in Framingham - for Friday, in connection with a national campaign protesting the conditions in migrant detention centers.

Immigrant, religious and labor groups, along with other advocacy organizations, throughout the country are holding ‘Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Concentration Camps’ demonstrations, with ‘key events’ planned for El Paso, Texas; San Diego, California; Homestead, Florida; New York City; and Washington, D.C.

The Framingham Lights for Liberty event takes place starting at 7 p.m. Friday outside the Memorial Building at 150 Concord St. Following speeches by community leaders, advocates and impacted persons, a silent candlelight vigil will take place at 9 p.m.”

NewspaperGuest UserJuly 10, 2019ICE, Immigration

"Back from the border: Local activists join ‘Sanctuary Caravan,’ share stories from trip"

“NORTHAMPTON — Two people from western Massachusetts recently spent time in Tijuana, on the border between the United States and Mexico, supporting the migrant caravan of thousands of Central American people who are seeking asylum in the U.S. The activists are part of the Sanctuary Caravan, a national initiative launched by immigrant rights group New Sanctuary Coalition that is working to get Americans to the border to support migrants there.

Adelita Simon, a Mount Holyoke College senior studying international relations and geography, and Caroline Murray, the national coordinator for Sanctuary Caravan, spoke about their experiences on the border during a panel on Monday evening, ‘Report Back From the Border: What Can We Do?’

Simon met Murray, a longtime western Massachusets organizer, at the Pioneer Valley Workers Center, where Murray is an adviser and Simon is an organizing fellow.”

NewspaperGuest UserDecember 6, 2018ICE, Immigration, US-Mexico Border

"Protesters gather to rally against ICE, immigration legislation"

“GREENFIELD — A call to action from two activist groups in the Pioneer Valley brought about a group of roughly 50 protesters to the Franklin County House of Corrections Friday morning.

The message advocated was twofold: Abolish the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, or at least the detention centers it oversees and to advocate for policy regarding the rights of immigrants in the Legislature that looks like it will be left out of the state budget Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to sign by the end of the month.

‘We want to bring the community together to show we stand with immigrants,’ said Eduardo Santiago, who is of Mexican descent and a member of Pioneer Valley Worker Center, a co-organizer of the protest. ‘We’re coming out here today to also send a message to our elected representatives and officials.’”

NewspaperGuest UserJuly 20, 2018ICE, Immigration

"Coalition Of Groups, Springfield Mayor Agree To Meet About Refugee Resettlement"

“Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno’s call for an end to refugee resettlement in the city has drawn a strong rebuttal from several social service agencies, faith- based groups, and anti-poverty activists.

A coalition including representatives of Catholic Charities, Council of Churches of Western Massachusetts, Jobs with Justice and several more groups that work with immigrants met in Springfield Friday and later held a news conference to call for a meeting with Mayor Sarno to discuss his claims that refugee resettlement had become a crisis in Springfield.

Rev. Susannah Crolius of the South Congregational Church in Springfield said she was taken aback by the mayor’s claims that refugees were causing a strain on housing, schools and public safety.”

NewspaperGuest UserAugust 16, 2013Refugees, Immigration