Resources for Immigrant Communities

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.

Create a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan

This plan should include emergency phone numbers, family and medical contact information, childcare arrangements in case a parent is detained, important documents, and other relevant details. Access multilingual templates to make a plan. Share these flyers with your community: Emergency Planning Fact Sheet for Parents or Guardians. 

• Explore the Attorney General’s Office guides for employees, employers, and communities.
• Continue accessing public benefits you have and qualify for (healthcare, education, transportation, etc.). Organizations that help with questions include Healthcare For All and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute.
• Connect with an immigrant-serving community-based organization in your neighborhood. While some shared messages may aim to divide, scare, distract, and separate us, finding support through groups and neighbors to foster community and solidarity can be constructive. A community list is linked here.

• 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.

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.

• 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.