Resources for Immigrant Communities
Giving City of Boston residents immigration resources and information.
This page shares available immigration information and resources. It will be updated when new information becomes available.
Use this guide for immigration resources. You can also access and download the guide in other languages.
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Helpline is a 24/7, free, and confidential resource that connects individuals directly to clinical care. No health insurance required. Visit masshelpline.com.
-
Have questions? Contact:
Immigrant Advancement -
1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 806
BOSTON, MA 02201-2030
Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights
1. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition has Know Your Rights information on their website including multilingual prerecorded trainings, printable flyers, and more. Training covers basic Know Your Rights information, including rights in interactions with immigration enforcement when immigration comes to your home or stops you while driving, family preparedness, where to get legal help, and information on fraud and immigration scams.
2. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has different civil rights education and training resources:
- Immigrant-specific Know Your Rights guides.
- ACLU MA Chapter general civil rights webpage.
3. Know Your Rights cards from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center can be shared with community members.
These are formatted as standard 3.5” by 2” business cards. Translated versions are designed to support immigrants in translating their rights with immigration officers.
- Any print or copy shop should be able to work from these files.
- You can also print them on your printer.
- Typically, the cards are printed with rounded corners (rounding out the corners with scissors when cutting) and using durable, bright paper, which allows them to be easily found in a wallet or purse and contrast well with black ink.
- Lamination is optional and best with rounded corners.
Emergency Family Plan
Create a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan
- This plan should include emergency phone numbers and family contact information, childcare plans, and a file of important documents, among other things. For help creating an emergency family plan, contact:
- The Attorney General’s Office has created a fact sheet for parents or guardians with uncertain immigration status.
- The MIRA Coalition has organized various family preparedness resources on their website.
Avoid Immigration Fraud
- If your immigration document/status expires soon, consult an attorney or an authorized community-based organization for guidance on the renewal process before it expires. You can use the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder or Department of Justice Accredited Representatives list to search for free or low-cost legal help. You can also use the American Immigration Lawyers Association search tool to look for a private lawyer.
- To confirm if an attorney is licensed in Massachusetts, look them up on the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.
- ONLY seek guidance and advice from immigration attorneys and/or organizations with Department of Justice Accredited Representatives.
- DO NOT pay for government application forms – forms are free and can be downloaded online at www.uscis.gov/forms.
- DO NOT give original documents – give copies instead.
- DO NOT sign any blank or incomplete forms, or anything you do not understand.
- DO get copies of every document that you sign, and ask for copies of all documents filed with the immigration court or USCIS.
- DO insist on a receipt for every payment you make, including cash payments.
If you have been the victim of fraud, you should report it to help protect others and address your own situation. You can make reports to:
- The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office: 617-963-2917.
- The Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers: https://www.massbbo.org/s/complaints
- The immigration court EOIR Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program: (703) 305-0470 or EOIR.Fraud.Program@usdoj.gov
- The Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/
Employer Resources
On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal government may proceed with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti & Syria while related litigation continues. The decision does not, by itself, end an employee's work authorization or invalidate an existing Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Employers should await USCIS implementation guidance on effective dates, Form I-9 obligations, and any reverification requirements before taking employment action.
- Employers should not assume that all employees rely on TPS for work authorization. Employment decisions should always be based on an employee's current work authorization documents—not on assumptions about nationality or immigration status.
- If you are an employer, this guide can help you understand what to do if immigration agents visit your workplace.
- When questions arise, employers should consult official USCIS guidance and experienced immigration counsel before taking any employment action.
- If you have questions about necessary documents to verify the work authorization of an employee, call the Immigrant and Employee Rights section of the Department of Justice at 1-800-255-8155.
- Employers should also be mindful of their anti-discrimination obligations. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Guidance for Employers Regarding Immigration and Work Authorization reminds employers that they must comply with both employment verification requirements and federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. Other states have similar guidance.
- Pathway for Immigrant Workers provides guidance to both employers and employees navigating these rapidly changing immigration issues. Consultations can be scheduled through their website.
MOIA Resources
- Immigration Consultations with Volunteer Lawyers - Free 15-minute immigration consultations by phone for Boston residents to speak with volunteer lawyers. The City is not responsible for any advice received and cannot guarantee the sufficiency, accuracy, or confidentiality of any information shared during consultation.
- Monthly Community Office Hours - Monthly Community Office Hours are available to connect to MOIA and other City services at branches of the Boston Public Library. For additional support, residents can contact MOIA's constituent services by emailing immigrantadvancement@boston.gov.
-
- Pathway for Immigrant Workers (PIW) - The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) and Pathway for Immigrant Workers (PIW) hold information sessions on green card sponsorship for low-wage immigrant workers.
- Immigrant Information Corners - Most Boston Public Libraries branches have an area with information about immigration, citizenship, and MOIA.
You Belong Here
You Belong HereWays to Support
To make a donation to support immigrant communities, visit:
- The Boston Foundation's Meeting the Moment: Supporting our Immigrant Neighbors Program
- Funding priorities: Legal Aid, Community Organizing, Policy and Advocacy, and the Social Safety Net.
- Focus area: Greater Boston
- The United Way of Massachusetts Bay's United Response Fund
- Funding priorities: Emergency financial assistance to ensure access to basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and childcare.
- Focus area: Statewide
Who's Involved:
-
Have questions? Contact:
Immigrant Advancement -
1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 806
BOSTON, MA 02201-2030
