COVID-19: TAKE ACTION
Check out our Legislative Advocacy page for advocacy initiatives for the Public Charge rule, Safe Communities Act, and other Massachusetts-specific legislation.
DEMAND ICE Release all People in Detention for Public Health
Immigration enforcement and ICE detention put thousands of people at risk and promote the spread of COVID-19.
On March 31st, in the National #FreeThemAll Week of Action to Halt Immigration Enforcement and Release All People In ICE Detention, we called representatives, senators, and local ICE directors to tell them “ICE detention is a tinderbox that threatens the health of people who are detained and staff alike.” bit.ly/DocsSayFreeThem
We ask for
Release all individuals currently detained in ICE custody and in the custody of the Office or Refugee Resettlement in coordination with qualified infectious disease and public health specialists.
Cease all local enforcement operations including civil enforcement and criminal referrals, ICE check-ins, electronic monitoring and mandatory court appearances.
Ensure all facilities where people are detained in ICE custody are hygienic and humane, by instituting measures to protect the health of detainees and making phone and video calls free for people connecting with their loved ones.
#FreeThemAll4PublicHealth
We need them to hear loud and clear from health care professionals nationwide: COVID-19 is a very serious threat, and continued immigration enforcement and detention will put tens of thousands of lives at risk. This must stop ASAP.
Sign the Healthcare Professionals Petition to Governor Baker, State Senators and Representatives, and Attorney General Healey.
Sign KIND’s petition to halt immigration hearings for children in detention to the Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
Download the Detention Watch Network's Toolkit to Support Local Demands for Mass Release of People in ICE Custody during COVID-19
SUPPORT the Immigrant Taxpayers Stimulus Act
State Senator James Eldridge filed An Act Relative to Providing Equal Stimulus Checks to Immigrant Taxpayers with Representatives Liz Miranda and Ruth B. Balser to ensure that undocumented immigrants and their families receive the same stimulus support as other taxpayers have through the federal CARES Act.
The CARES Act, a recovery act that Congress recently passed, provides much-needed stimulus checks for most American taxpayers. But it excludes taxpayers who file with an ITIN rather than a Social Security Number. These mostly immigrant families have paid the same share of income taxes as those with social security numbers and deserve the same assistance. Moreover, stimulus payments to immigrant workers and entrepreneurs, including those without SSNs, would, like payments to other taxpayers, benefit the Massachusetts economy as a whole.
Source: senatoreldridge.com
The bill will:
Direct the Department of Revenue to provide a stimulus check to ITIN taxpayers that is equal to the stimulus checks provided under the CARES Act
Set the amount of the credit (generally $2,400 for joint filers, $1,200 for individual filers and $500 per child) to mirror the CARES Act provisions
Facilitate taxpayers receiving the funds quickly by providing the “stimulus check” in the form of a direct deposit when possible
Provide $10 million to immigrant aid organizations to provide direct financial assistance to immigrants and immigrant families.
Read the bill here and contact your Reps and Senators for their co-sponsorship and support.
DONATE Part of Your Stimulus Check to Undocumented Communities
Petition by Movimento Cosecha: Pledge to give part of your stimulus check to undocumented families.
Fundraiser by Movimento Cosecha: Direct financial support to undocumented immigrants facing financial hardship due to COVID-19.
Fundraiser by Metrowest Immigrant Workers Center: Funds for immigrant workers, all donations go towards food scarcity and housing assistance.
Fundraiser by UndocuFund: Direct financial support to immigrant workers and families affected by COVID-19.