Thread: Mass:State Hears Immigrant Policy Advice from Public

State hears immigrant policy advice

Michel Chamsarian of the Dominican Republic discusses her experiences at last night’s state-sponsored hearing at Barnstable High School.

Cape Cod Times/Ron Schloerb
By Patrick Cassidy
pcassidy@capecodonline.com

November 20, 2008

HYANNIS — A diverse crowd of more than 100 people turned out last night at Barnstable High School to tell a state panel what they thought should be done to better integrate immigrants and refugees in Massachusetts.

From immigrants concerned about drivers' licenses and education to U.S.-born speakers who decried benefits given to people in the country illegally, the two-hour session covered a wide range of topics.

"We are here to have a conversation with you, to listen to you," said Richard Chacón, executive director of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants. "We expect it may not be an easy conversation."

The hearing was the second of six to be held across the state so the Governor's Advisory Council on Immigrants and Refugees can take input on the New Americans Agenda, an evolving state policy on integration called for by Gov. Deval Patrick in July.

The group expects to release its recommendations by next July. Council members on stage in the high school's Knight Auditorium were joined by a panel of local officials and citizens.

The council is working with Chacón's office and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition to develop the new policy.

The goal of integrating immigrant communities while allowing them to maintain their cultural identity should be simple, said Ernest Hadley, a member of the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission and a panel participant. But, he added, achieving it would not be.

"The single biggest obstacle that we face in achieving the goal is overcoming the climate of fear and suspicion that currently envelops all things immigrant," Hadley said.

Hadley suggested the state help with an Internet-based system to distribute information for immigrants and the agencies that interact with them. Retraining should be a priority at agencies such as the Registry of Motor Vehicles where there is "backsliding" on subtle forms of discrimination despite efforts two years ago to change the situation, he said.

Kathleen Schatzberg, president of Cape Cod Community College, urged the state to move forward with legislation that would allow immigrant students to pay the same tuition as other students.

Matthew Lee, a Centerville immigration attorney and a former investigator for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, called for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, including secure borders to stop illegal immigration and reform of the system of legal immigration.

"It is critical for this board to take back to the governor that you must find common ground," Lee said.

Michel Chamsarian who came from the Dominican Republic and now lives in Hyannis, said it has been difficult to find a good job in the U.S. even with an engineering degree from her home country. In other states the process is easier, she said.

"I'm just asking for all the professionals from another country to have a process to follow," she said, a request echoed by other speakers.

For others benefits for illegal immigrants were a problem.

Richard Trott Sr. of Sandwich walked to the front of the auditorium on crutches to speak.

Trott told the story of a veteran who was in the U.S. legally and served in Kuwait but who was unable to get benefits until he told officials that he was in the country illegally.

"We're giving preference to one group," Trott said.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs. ... 11/-1/news

Alegal citizen had to lie and say he was illegal to get his benefits?what the hell!! this proves they are going out of their way to aid and abet forien nationals.This country is getting more nuts all the time. what happened to my america.

Perhaps this is cruel---but--Massachusetss stopped being part of the USA ago...... Vermont is no better.