FUMC: A Pastoral Letter re: Executive Orders & Immigration

Dear members and friends of Franklin United Methodist Church, On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order which allows o...

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	A Pastoral Letter re: Executive Orders & Immigration
	Dear members and friends of Franklin United Methodist Church, On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order which allows officers enforcing immigration law to arrest migrants at sensitive locations, including churches, without prior approval.[i]  Since that time, there have been many verified[ii] and rumored[iii] detentions where people have been targeted based upon the color of their skin and the language they speak and not solely upon past or on-going criminal investigations and immigration status. Many in our community, including non-white citizens and those with legal immigration status, are afraid. We must stand with the migrant, immigrant, and the refugee. We cannot remain silent. As United Methodists, "we affirm the dignity, worth, and rights of migrants, immigrants and refugees, including displaced and stateless people."[iv] And, "we oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. We challenge policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children, and we oppose the existence of for-profit detention centers for such purposes."[v] As United Methodists, we are urged to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into our congregation and provide concrete support, "including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment and other kinds of support."[vi] As Christians, we affirm that "The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow" (Psalm 146:9a, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition). We see it as our call to show hospitality and welcome to the stranger and foreigner, treating them as family and citizens of our own land (cf. Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 27:19, Ezekiel 47:22, Zechariah 7:9-10, Matthew 25:31-36). We believe, in the words of Jesus, that the entirety of Scripture can be summed up in two commandments, love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself (cf. Matthew 22:34-40). This love extends to all persons regardless of one's race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, and immigration status. God's love found in the person of Jesus Christ breaks down these human constructs and molds us into one diverse and inclusive people (cf. Romans 8:28). As citizens of the United States of America, we hold it as a fundamental right that all persons should be granted the freedom to gather and exercise the religion of their choosing.  President Trump's executive order creates a very real threat that "deters congregants from attending services [and practicing their religion], especially members of immigrant communities."[vii] I have instructed all staff and building users regarding protocols that should be followed should an immigration enforcement officer be spotted on church property or enter the facility. I am also making available information so that all members of our community understand their rights should they encounter such an officer. "Know Your Rights" cards, also known as "Red Cards," are available in the vestry along with printed copies of "Faith and Facts Card—Immigration to the U.S." published by the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church. Finally, additional information and resources, specific to Massachusetts and/or The United Methodist Church, can be found below. I hope, and I pray, that President Trump will come to look with compassion and mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. Many are. [viii] I also hope, and I pray, that our church will not lose its resolve for being a place where all can experience compassion and mercy; that we might continue to be a community where all can experience meaningful relationship with God, grow in Christ, and reach out in love to others; a place where all can love and be loved; a community where all persons can be accepted as they are. I encourage everyone to pray for our President, other government officials in our country and around the world, and all those who refuse to reach out with anything less than a heart full of love, mercy and compassion. In Jesus' name, and for Christ's sake, I pray—and I hope you will too. Peace. Pastor Jacob ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church has a page devoted to "Immigration to the U.S," www.umcjustice.org/what-we-care-about/civil-and-human-rights/immigration-to-the-united-states, that includes resources and practical action items. The New England Conference of The United Methodist Church has established a resource list for immigrants and allies, neumc.org/immigrant. New England Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON), newenglandjfon.org, provides free, expert legal aid to low- and no-income immigrants, specializing in humanitarian-based cases. Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), miracoalition.org, advocates for the advancement of all immigrants across the Commonwealth and beyond. They have many free resources including a help line for those seeking to be a better advocate and ally. NOTES AND REFERECES: [i] Rebecca Santana, "Trump administration throws out policies limiting migrant arrests at sensitive spots like church," APNews.com,  January 21, 2025 (https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-sensitive-locations-trump-ab0d2d2652e9df696f14410ebb52a1fc). [ii] Marlene Lenthang, "Here are the cities where ICE raids are taking place," NBC News, January 27, 2025 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/are-cities-ice-raids-are-taking-place-rcna189390). [iii] Gina Lee Castro, "Milwaukee officials, advocates working to verify viral report of Puerto Rican family detained by ICE," USAToday.com, January 30, 2025 (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/2025/01/30/telemundo-report-of-ice-detaining-puerto-rican-family-in-milwaukee-draws-concern/78058292007/). [iv] from "The Political Community," section "G. Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees" in The United Methodist Social Principles: As Adopted by General Conference Charlotte, 2024 (https://www.umcjustice.org/documents/124), p38. [v] Ibid. [vi] Ibid. [vii] "Donald Trump Sued by Quakers Over ICE Raids," Newsweek.com, January 28, 2025 (https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-sued-quakers-ice-raids-immigration-2021904). [viii] see sermon by Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, at the Washington National Cathedral, January 21, 2025 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwwaEuDeqM8). >< Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church 508-528-1092 (o) 860-861-3141 (c)

Detect immigration scams that start on social media

Detect immigration scams that start on social media By Gema de las Heras Scammers are impersonating attorneys and law firms, offering immigration services on social media. The posts on Facebook and other platforms might be in English or your preferred language.  If you press like or leave a comment, they'll contact you and guarantee you'll get a work permit, green card, or citizenship — but it's a scam.  How do you spot and avoid the scammers? Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/12/detect-immigration-scams-start-social-media?

Detect immigration scams that start on social media

Healey-Driscoll Administration: Changes to Emergency Assistance Prioritization, Safety-Net Sites Announced 7/23/24

The Healey-Driscoll administration is announcing changes to its Emergency Assistance (EA) prioritization and safety-net sites for families experiencing homelessness. These changes are intended to address the system’s continuing capacity constraints, lower costs, and protect the financial sustainability of the EA system. 

Beginning August 1, 2024, families will be prioritized for placement in EA shelters if they are homeless because of a no-fault eviction or because of sudden or unusual circumstances in Massachusetts beyond their control, such as a flood or fire, or if they have at least one member who is a veteran. Families will continue to be prioritized if they have significant medical needs, newborn children, are at risk of domestic violence, or are homeless because of fire, flood, or other disasters.

Healey-Driscoll Administration

Families who are not prioritized for placement in EA shelters will be eligible to stay at a “temporary respite center” for up to five days. On August 1, the state’s safety-net sites in Chelsea, Lexington, Cambridge and Norfolk will be transitioned to temporary respite centers. Norfolk is the newest of these sites and is nearing capacity. The administration will not be opening additional respite center sites due to operational and financial constraints.

Families who choose to stay at a temporary respite center will be required to wait six months or more for placement in the state’s emergency family shelter system. They will remain eligible for other diversion services, such as reticketing and the HomeBASE program. Families who have been in temporary respite centers prior to the policy change on August 1 will retain their prioritization for placement into EA shelter, and the state will begin helping them leave these sites according to the date in which they entered. This policy does not apply to United Way shelter sites.

“We have been saying for months now that the rapid growth of our Emergency Assistance shelter system is not sustainable. Massachusetts is out of shelter space, and we simply cannot afford the current size of this system. Our administration has taken significant action over the past year to make the system more sustainable and help families leave shelter for stable housing. But with Congress continuing to fail to act on immigration reform, we need to make more changes,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we are making changes to EA prioritization and transitioning our safety-net sites to five-day temporary respite centers. This is in line with the policies of other cities facing similar challenges as Massachusetts and will help give families some relief for a few days while they access the diversion services we can provide, such as reticketing.”

Last year, Governor Healey declared that a state of emergency exists in Massachusetts due to rapidly rising numbers of immigrant families arriving in Massachusetts in need of shelter and services and a severe lack of shelter availability in the state. In the fall, she announced that the EA system was at capacity at 7,500 families.

The administration has focused on getting immigrants work authorizations, English classes, and placed into jobs to give them the tools they need to move into stable housing and to meet the workforce needs of our employers. Governor Healey successfully advocated for U.S. Department of Homeland Security to hold a work authorization clinic in Massachusetts and processing times have significantly increased. Since November 2023, the administration has helped nearly 3,800 immigrants apply for work authorizations, the vast majority of which have been approved, and nearly 1,250 have been enrolled in ESOL classes. Across the system, nearly 1,300 EA residents have gotten jobs.

The administration also expanded the HomeBASE program, which helps cover rent and other costs for families with children under 21 years old or pregnant people and offered mobile vouchers to the approximately 1,200 EA families who were in EA longer than 18 months. 

As a result of these efforts, the number of families leaving the EA system has steadily increased each month, with more than 330 families leaving each month recently – the highest numbers in years.

The Legislature recently passed a nine-month length of stay requirement in EA shelters, which Governor Healey signed into law and recently implemented. Governor Healey also previously implemented a 30-day recertification requirement at safety-net sites.

Last month, Governor Healey sent members of her administration to the U.S. Southern Border to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Joint Task Force-North, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and families to educate them about the lack of shelter availability in Massachusetts. The Governor also recently ended the practice of families overnighting at Logan Airport and increased outreach around the state’s reticketing program, which provides families with transportation to another location where they have friends or family or another option for a safe place to stay.

Shared from -> https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-announces-changes-to-emergency-assistance-prioritization-safety-net-sites

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/06/23 (audio)

FM #1055 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1055 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Sep 6, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The recording runs about 22 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1055-town-administrators-report-migrant-housing-status-09-06-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_9.6.23.pdf

 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/06/23 (audio)

In this Talk Franklin episode, we start with the State announcement on temporary housing of migrants (audio)

FM #1050 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1050 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Thursday, August 24, 2023.  

Topics for this session

Notification on State arranging to place migrants in Best Western Hotel

Davis Thayer Reuse; suggestions gathered, some interesting & new

Economic Development, Small zoning change

Police Station Building Cmte, Starting work

School opens, drive safely

The recording runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie & Amy on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1050-talk-franklin-08-24-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Davis Thayer Reuse Committee agenda & links ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2023-08-15_davis-thayer_reuse_agenda_.pdf 

 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

In this Talk Franklin episode, we start with the State announcement on temporary housing of migrants (audio)

The Codcast: "Right to shelter: Is it a migrant magnet?" (audio)

"FOR 40 YEARS, Massachusetts has had a right-to-shelter law, which requires the state to provide shelter to families with children as well as pregnant women. The law is attracting a lot of attention right now because the number of families seeking shelter has more than tripled since the start of the year, the cost to the state is up to $45 million a month, and Gov. Maura Healey recently declared a state of emergency, urging the federal government to address immigration reform and to streamline the process for obtaining work permits.

Rep. Peter Durant, a Republican from Spencer who is running for a seat in the state Senate, and Evan Horowitz, the executive director of the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University, outlined very different perspectives on right to shelter on The Codcast but agreed that the state needs to do a much better job gathering information on the impact of the law, its cost, and the role of migrants in the recent crisis."

Continue reading the article online ->    https://commonwealthmagazine.org/immigration/right-to-shelter-is-it-a-migrant-magnet/

Listen to The Codcast -> https://on.soundcloud.com/KaVxG

CommonWealth Magazine · Right to shelter: Is it a migrant magnet?

MA notifies Franklin of plans to house migrant families in local Franklin hotel

Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen, was notified this week that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has entered into a year lease with the Best Western Plus Executive Residency on Upper Union Street in Franklin to shelter incoming migrant families.  

 

“The Town, and its departments, will lead with compassion, support and assistance for families, as allowed by the state” Hellen said. “We are working with various Town departments to proactively organize a managed response and we will communicate more information as it becomes available.”

Massachusetts law requires cities and towns to find housing for migrants coming into the state under the right to shelter provision. No local approvals are required and, at this time, the Town does not have any specifics, such as how many migrants Franklin will host, where the migrants are coming from, and the composition of these individuals. 

The Town’s Public Health Director, Cathleen Liberty, will be coordinating these efforts in close collaboration with both the Healy Administration and the Town Administrator’s office.  As more information becomes available the Town will share it broadly and post it to the Health Department’s website at https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department.

More than 80 communities throughout Massachusetts are working with the state to support more than 20,000 homeless families in crisis. Once the Town becomes aware of the particulars and understands the needs associated with helping individuals and families coming to Franklin, we will notify the community for support.

“At this time we are asking the community not to send donations until the Town has a better understanding of the needs” said Liberty. “We anticipate there will be a need for aid and we will work closely with local human services organizations and the community in the coming weeks to lend a helping hand to those requiring assistance” 

“Franklin is a welcoming community, and I have no doubt we will do whatever we can to accommodate and accept migrants with open arms and an open heart,” said Hellen. “It is my understanding that the Commonwealth will be providing meals, public health services, and transitional assistance. With that said, there will still be ongoing impacts and costs associated with hosting these families for Franklin and the Town will work with the state to help alleviate these costs.”

The Town is advising the public to not visit the Best Western hotel as there are no families currently housed there and there are no services present. 

Copy of press release ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZrtRuZM0DyW9gbQ1K5GPRaKD2-1iMokO/view?usp=drive_link

MA notifies Franklin of plans to house migrant families in local Franklin hotel

plans to house migrant families in local Franklin hotel

Climate Change Roundup: connecting to the grid; CA farmers need help; climate migration has begun

Wind and Solar Energy Projects Risk Overwhelming America’s Antiquated Electrical Grids    - The New York Times  (subscription maybe required)  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/climate/renewable-energy-us-electrical-grid.html

‘Help us fight’: California farmers ask for more aid after deadly storms | California | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/23/california-farm-workers-disaster-relief

The American climate migration has already begun | Jake Bittle | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required) 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/feb/23/us-climate-crisis-housing-migration-natural-disasters 

'The effects will be different in every place, but almost everywhere safe shelter will get scarcer and more expensive, loosening people’s grip on the stability that comes with a permanent home.’ Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

“We are a nation of immigrants. We all benefit from increased public safety."

"One day after state legislators approved a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses in Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker vetoed the measure, saying it poses a risk to election security.

In a letter rejecting the legislation late Friday afternoon, Baker said the bill requires the Registry of Motor Vehicles “to issue state credentials to people without the ability to verify their identity” and “increases the risk that noncitizens will be registered to vote.”

He also expressed concern that the identification wouldn’t distinguish an undocumented person from a documented one."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/05/27/metro/governor-baker-vetoes-bill-give-drivers-license-undocumented-residents/

CommonWealth Magazine coverage

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/immigration/baker-vetoes-drivers-license-bill-for-undocumented-immigrants/ 

A Pass the Work and Family Mobility Act Rally was held on the steps of the Massachusetts State House on July 29, 2021. (Photo by Rose Lincoln)

CommonWealth Magazine: recent MA gaming revenue promising; questionable inaction on foreign trained medical Drs; Inauguration brings changes to MA immigrant status

 

"LAST WEEK’S REVENUE REPORT from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission suggested the state’s casinos are doing pretty well, given the many restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Monthly slot revenues for the Commonwealth’s two category 2 casinos showed modest increases, with Encore Boston Harbor posting a 3.9 percent increase over November’s numbers, and MGM Springfield showing a 9.51 percent increase.  Plainridge Park, the state’s lone slots-only facility, reported a 20.77 percent increase in monthly slot revenue."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/december-gaming-revenues-show-promise/

"IN EARLY APRIL, amid the first COVID-19 surge and an emerging shortage of health care workers, Gov. Charlie Baker signed an executive order allowing foreign-trained medical doctors to gain full licensure here in Massachusetts.

This came after a slew of legislators and immigration advocates appealed to his administration to utilize that workforce. At the end of July, when cases of COVID-19 were ebbing, Baker rescinded the order, a move that allowed those who received their license during the previous three months to continue practicing but barred any new applications.

Now, with cases rising fast and the state once again facing a shortage of health care workers, the Baker administration has gone strangely silent on why the program isn’t being resuscitated and even expanded beyond doctors."

Continue reading the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/baker-goes-silent-on-foreign-trained-docs/

 

"HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of Massachusetts immigrants could be impacted by President Biden’s immigration overhaul, which includes a massive bill sent to Congress on Wednesday that was accompanied by a series of executive orders.

Those orders, signed after Biden assumed the presidency, will reverse Trump-era travel bans that focused primarily on immigrants from Muslim countries. Another executive order allows young immigrants brought into the country without authorization to once again apply for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, which former president Trump suspended in 2017. A third will reverse a memo signed into law by Trump in 2020 that excluded undocumented immigrants from Census counts. "

Continue reading the article online 

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/immigration/bidens-great-immigration-undoing/

In the News: "Trump administration rescinds rule on foreign students"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Facing eight federal lawsuits and opposition from hundreds of universities, the Trump administration on Tuesday rescinded a rule that would have required international students to transfer or leave the country if their schools held classes entirely online because of the pandemic.

The decision was announced at the start of a hearing in a federal lawsuit in Boston brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said federal immigration authorities agreed to pull the July 6 directive and “return to the status quo.”

A lawyer representing the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said only that the judge’s characterization was correct.

The announcement brings relief to thousands of foreign students who had been at risk of being deported from the country, along with hundreds of universities that were scrambling to reassess their plans for the fall in light of the policy."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200714/trump-administration-rescinds-rule-on-foreign-students

State Rep Jeff Roy had shared the joint letter sent to the President on this matter last week  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/07/state-rep-jeff-roy-we-made-bipartisan.html

State Rep Jeff Roy: "We made a bipartisan appeal to the President"

State Rep Jeff Roy tweets:

"We made a bipartisan appeal to the President to reconsider and rescind the new rules barring international students from the US if their school goes online. The policy is punitive, threatens safety, and will negatively affect our economy and university system."

The letter appealing to the President:

The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to respectfully request that you reconsider and rescind the new temporary final rules announced on Monday which prohibits international students from staying in the United States if they are enrolled in an American college or university that implements an online-only platform for instruction. We understand that the guidance also applies to an institution that moves to exclusively online mid-semester in response to rising COVID-19 cases

on campus, and to students who are living on campuses that are open, but offering classes online­ only to protect the health and safety of their faculty and campus community.

As you know, since March our colleges and universities have been in furious upheaval , navigating an unprecedented pandemic and formulating strategies to continue teaching students without putting them, faculty and staff at risk. Our institutions have sought to balance concerns for public health with their academic mission of teaching and scholarship. This work has been both difficult and costly, and the new rules will add more uncertainty and disruption. Moreover, the new rules leave international students with the choice of either transferring to another institution that provides in person or hybrid instruction , or to depart the country and risk not being able to return. Students who fail to comply with this guidance may face deportation.

We also note that the new rules were introduced without notice, without an opportunity for public comment, and put undo pressure on campuses to stay open when it is unsafe to do so. This comes at a time when the United States has been setting daily records for the number of new infections , with more than 300,000 new cases reported since July 1. And the policy effectively reverses course from the spring and summer, when ICE temporarily suspended pre­pandemic rules banning international students from residing in the U.S. and taking online-only courses.

More than a million international students come to the US every year to earn a degree that will help them land better jobs, and many remain in the US after graduation. They contribute to the cultural diversity of our campuses and many pay full tuition, which helps our institutions, especially in these times of economic difficulty and uncertainty. In Massachusetts there are 77,000 international students with active US study visas and another 32,000 in the rest of New England. Our state ranks fourth nationwide for its number of international students, and Northeastern University, with 16,000, ranks third in the country. Nationwide, international students contribute a $41 billion economic impact that supports more than 450,000 jobs. As one of our University Presidents observed, no public good is served by these efforts to deprive international students from continuing to make valuable and necessary contributions to the prosperity of the nation and the impact on the economic interests will be negative and potentially irreversible.

This policy is not only punitive to these international students, it also threatens the safety of other students and the communities surrounding college campuses. Additionally, transporting international students who may have been exposed to the coronavirus to other campuses or to airports to fly back to their home countries poses a myriad of health risks.

Finally, we understand that both Harvard University and MIT filed suit seeking a preliminary injunction this morning and I am sure others will follow. This litigation will be costly, will take time, and will waste precious judicial resources at a time when we should be focusing on rebuilding our nation.

Accordingly, we request that, in the best interest of our nation, you reconsider and rescind the temporary rules to help preserve our higher education system which is, indeed, the envy of the world.


Most respectfully,

Robert A. DeLeo 
Speaker of the House


Karen Spilka
Senate President

Jeffrey N. Roy 
House Chair, Committee on Higher Education

Anne Gobi
Senate Chair, Committee on Higher Education

Claire Cronin
House Chair, Committee on Judiciary

Paul McMurtry 
House Chair, Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development

Patricia A. Haddad 
Speaker Pro Tempore

Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 
House Minority Leader 20th Middlesex District

Alice H. Peisch 
House Chair, Committee on Education

Joanne M. Comerford
Senate Chair, Committee on Public Health

William H. Straus
House Chair, Committee on Transportation


Find the full PDF copy of this document
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New MassBudget Report: "Sharing The Road"

Sharing the Road: A chance to boost safety and economic prosperity in the Commonwealth   Massachusetts is home to nearly 185,000 undocumented immigrants who form a crucial part of its workforce. But obstacles exist that prevent them from fully contributing to the Bay State economy. Providing undocumented immigrants with driver's licenses would boost the state's economy, lower premiums for other motorists, and make the Commonwealth's roads safer. Our latest report, Sharing the Road, outlines the economic benefits of allowing all drivers to obtain licenses regardless of their immigration status. In the Commonwealth, undocumented immigrants drive to work, take their kids to school, and shop for groceries every day. But they face the constant risk of being pulled over and arrested for driving without licenses. Sharing the Road also chronicles the personal story of one undocumented Massachusetts resident who must navigate transportation without the benefit of a license. New MassBudget Report: "Sharing The Road" "It's economically sensible, and simply the right thing to do, to permit undocumented residents in the Commonwealth to obtain driver's licenses," said Marie-Frances Rivera, president of MassBudget. "Licensing drivers without documents not only allows them and their families to access basic necessities, it also allows employers to access more qualified workers in our tight labor market." The report also finds that: Permitting undocumented Massachusetts residents to access licenses could generate $6 million in initial state revenue within the first three years of implementation. Granting undocumented drivers access to licenses could reduce insurance premiums for all motorists, by about $20 per year. A change permitting undocumented residents to obtain licenses would also generate an estimated $62 million for insurance companies. Public safety would improve. Licensing undocumented drivers ensures they are tested for basic knowledge of rules of the road and are less fearful of reporting crimes and crashes to law enforcement officers. 14 other states, D.C., and Puerto Rico currently allow all drivers, regardless of immigration status, to obtain licenses. To read the full report, click here http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Sharing-the-Road-Licensing-all-drivers.html The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 1 STATE STREET, SUITE 1250 BOSTON, MA 02109

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 1 State Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02109 Sent by mching@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!