Immigration Resource Guide

Giving City of Boston residents immigration resources and information.

Page Sections

Use this guide to learn about and share immigration resources. You can also access and download the guide in other languages. This document consolidates and shares available immigration information and resources.

Nothing in this document represents formal legal advice, and residents are encouraged to contact the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) if they have further questions.

Have questions? Contact:

Immigrant Advancement
immigrantadvancement@boston.gov
617-635-2980
1 CITY HALL SQUARE, ROOM 806

BOSTON, MA 02201-2030
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MOIA Resources

Phone Immigration Consultations with Volunteer Lawyers - Free 15-minute phone immigration consultations 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 - Resource centers in Boston Public Libraries, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and YMCAs. They have materials in different languages with information about citizenship, financial empowerment, and public and community resources. The City also hosts events for the immigrant community at these locations.
Citizenship Day - The event is an opportunity for people who are eligible for naturalization to get free legal help with their citizenship application.

Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights

1. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition has FREE Know Your Rights trainings and multilingual downloadable resources. 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, public charge, 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. Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) - a civilian body that investigates complaints of police misconduct.

4. 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.

5. The Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) supports services that meet the cultural and linguistic needs of refugees and immigrants through a network of service providers in Massachusetts.

Artwork for printing your own red cards in multiple Languages:

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.

If your immigration document/status expires soon, consult an attorney or authorized community-based organization for guidance on the renewal process before expiration.
Consult an immigration attorney. An attorney can help address specific concerns, including questions about your immigration status. ONLY seek guidance and advice from immigration attorneys and/or organizations with Department of Justice Accredited Representatives. To confirm if an attorney is licensed in Massachusetts, look them up on the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers.
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.
If you are an employer, understand what you can and cannot do if immigration agents come to your workplace.

Documents and Services:

Get your Massachusetts driver's license. All residents can apply for one under the Work and Family Mobility Act. A driver’s license provides valid identification and helps reduce the risk of entering the criminal law system if authorities stop you.
- The RMV’s policy prohibits information-sharing with immigration authorities, and regulations from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office prohibit the RMV from providing information to immigration authorities.
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.
Remain calm, read multiple news outlets, and ask for help. Remember that people sometimes spread unverified news and might have different interpretations of what is happening. Find more than one news resource and contact MOIA, community organizations, elected leaders, or legal aid organizations to understand what is happening.
Use the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) to be connected as an individual directly to clinical mental health help 24/7. Services are free and confidential, and interpretation is available in more than 200 languages. No health insurance is required. Call or text 833-773-2445.