‘Betrayal of the American promise': Trump admin. cuts citizenship assistance in Mass.
The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition announced the formal funding loss on Tuesday.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem originally announced a blanket freeze on all grants to nonprofits in late January. But the coalition had been hopeful the money would be reinstated. It was granted last year and intended to run through September 2026.
When the funds were initially suspended, the Massachusetts organization had to immediately cease citizenship application assistance, saying hundreds of immigrants would now be forced to navigate the 'daunting and costly citizenship application process without the support of qualified, trained experts.'
Currently, the MIRA Coalition's website reads: 'UPDATE: WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY CITIZENSHIP CLINICS SCHEDULED, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE ALSO NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Please check back with us at a later time.'
Read more: How many visas could get canceled? Nearly 1 in 5 Mass. college students need them
In response to the official funding cut, the group's executive director, Elizabeth Sweet, said Tuesday that 'abandoning' green card holders who are pursuing U.S. citizenship 'is a betrayal of the American promise so many of them - and the American people - believe in.'
'Making it harder for hundreds of longtime, law-abiding, hard-working Green Card holders to secure U.S. citizenship is unfortunately just the latest in the Trump administration's long list of anti-immigrant actions,' Sweet said. 'The hundreds of Green Card holders that participated in our citizenship program work tirelessly, pay taxes, and now, are on the cusp of earning the right to vote.'
USCIS did not immediately return a request for comment.
Read more: Mass. immigration lawyer, a US citizen, ordered by DHS to leave the country
The MIRA Coalition is the largest coalition in New England advocating for immigrant rights and has historically helped green card holders navigate the complexities of applying for citizenship through free clinics, office visits and one-on-one support.
Staff members and volunteers guided people through the naturalization form, provided final application reviews and kept copies of personal documents on hand at their office.
As of 2022, there were approximately 249,870 green card holders living in Massachusetts who were eligible to become U.S. citizens, data from the MIRA Coalition show.
Other citizenship class providers around the state are listed on the MIRA Coalition's website.
The loss of funding comes as the Trump administration has enacted a wave of student visa revocations across the country, impacting several colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
Attorneys in Massachusetts are also reporting receiving emails from the Department of Homeland Security telling them to leave the U.S. despite having citizenship.
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