Framingham groups explore immigrant rights

Framingham groups explore immigrant rights

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Mar 23, 2017 at 10:45 PM Updated at 1:48 PM

FRAMINGHAM — In its early days, the adult ESL program run by Framingham Public Schools accepted students on a first-come, first-served basis.

The demand grew so great that people lined up for hours for a chance to participate. The program eventually transitioned to a lottery system, then switched last year to an online ticketing platform.

In the most recent round of admissions, the 60 available slots for English language instruction disappeared in roughly 10 seconds. Some 1,400 people remain on the waiting list.

Christine Tibor, director of the school system's Department of Family and Community Engagement for Framingham Public Schools, said the demand shows the need for more volunteers at the adult ESL program, which provides one of the direct avenues for residents who are fluent in English to empower their immigrant neighbors.

"Everyone is telling them, 'Why don't you learn English?'" Tibor said. "And they're trying ... . They're desperate."

With a new administration in Washington taking aim at undocumented immigrants, Tibor and others gathered Thursday to discuss strategies to make Framingham a safe place for all residents, including those who don't have legal status.

The forum, held at Greater Framingham Community Church, was organized by Framingham Coming Together, a coalition of community groups that includes local clergy, Metrowest
Showing Up For Racial Justice and the Framingham Teachers Association.

About 50 people attended the forum, which highlighted the legal challenges facing immigrants in Framingham. The audience included some local police officers and teachers, who asked for guidance about what to tell children in their schools who are afraid they or their family members could be targeted for immigration enforcement.

Tibor read from a recent letter circulated by the school district's acting superintendent, who sought to reassure parents the schools would be a welcoming and safe environment. Tibor said the district recently created a new section on its website to provide immigration resources for families and staff.

She said more than 400 people attended a "know your rights" seminar conducted in Portuguese last week through the adult ESL program. Similar programs are planned in Spanish and other languages.

Jennifer Ollington, a staff attorney at MetroWest Legal Services, an independent law firm in Framingham, described the free legal services the organization provides to low-income residents, including undocumented immigrants at risk of being evicted, suffering domestic violence or facing proceedings in family court.

Ollington said the organization offers the only two full-time staff attorneys specializing in immigration law who offer pro bono services between Boston and Worcester. People sometimes stay on the group's waiting list for as long as one year to get help, she said.

If there's any bright spot in the last two months, she said, it's that collaboration has increased with community partners, such as the public schools. The firm recently discussed immigration issues at the high school, she said, making contact with 70 students who sought legal advice.

The organization also provides a free walk-in immigration clinic.

"I would encourage people, even if they think they don't have any immigration relief, to just come and to talk to an attorney for free," she said.

With much of the immigration debate focused around law enforcement, Police Chief Ken Ferguson assured those in the audience that the department doesn't focus on immigration problems. The department's written policies ban officers from investigating a suspect's immigration or travel status if the sole purpose is to determine whether they're in the country lawfully, or to facilitate their deportation.

In some situations, Ferguson said U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues 48-hour detainers on suspects who are being held by Framingham police. In those circumstances, Ferguson said the department typically holds the suspect until the following day, allowing a bail commissioner at the district court to determine how to proceed.

"We've never been called by ICE and asked to reserve cells for them," Ferguson said, explaining that while ICE typically notifies the department of its upcoming actions in Framingham, local police don't participate in immigration raids. Ferguson added that he hasn't seen an uptick in ICE enforcement in Framingham. He said the department intends to continue its focus on community policing, engaging residents through neighborhood meetings, police-youth dialogues and citizen police academies.

"We realize with the current environment that we have to enhance that, and that's what we plan on doing," he said.

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