Issue Position: Immigrant Population

Issue Position

Our Commonwealth has a legacy of being a welcoming place for newcomers, and I strongly believe we should remain an inviting destination for people in search of better lives for themselves and their families. Our communities and our economy are made stronger by the diverse group of people who choose to live here, and I believe that we must do all that we can to ensure immigrants are treated with fairness and respect, and have equal opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

Throughout my tenure in the Senate, I have continuously voted against legislation and amendments to the state budget that would harm our vibrant immigrant and refugee community in Massachusetts. In one of my very first votes as a State Senator, I proudly stood with only nine other colleagues in opposition to legislation that unfairly targeted our state's immigrants. Since then, I have repeatedly advocated for initiatives that provide critical services to our immigrant and refugee population and programs that help residents of Massachusetts become United States citizens.

Massachusetts's Citizenship for New Americans Program (CNAP) has been essential to helping immigrants become naturalized citizens and offers critical services, such as English for Speakers of Other Languages and civics classes, citizenship application assistance, and interview preparation and support service. The Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants' (ORI) New American Integration Program also plays a crucial role in providing assistance to refugees and immigrants in need of employment and naturalization services. I have been a consistent advocate of increased funding for CNAP and ORI over the years, and I will continue to do so in my role as Senate Vice Chair of Ways and Means.

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