Thread: New rights for immigrants proposed

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New rights for immigrants proposed
By Cyndi Roy
Thursday, October 6, 2005

STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

As the immigrant population swells in Massachusetts, one state lawmaker is pushing legislation he says would make it easier for foreigners to become legal residents. But others say the bill would encourage immigrants to live here illegally.

A bill filed by Rep. Byron Rushing, D-Boston, and co-sponsored by 10 House Democrats would prohibit state agencies and employees from inquiring into individual immigrants' legal status when they seek state services, unless required by federal or state statute, or court decision.

The bill would also prohibit the state from establishing regulations or requirements denying assistance or participation in state programs on the basis of immigration status, except as required by federal or state law.

"It's obvious we only benefit from immigrants coming to Massachusetts," Rushing told members of the Legislature's Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Monday. "We should go on record absolutely saying we really want immigrants here and we will do everything we can to get them regularized if they're not."

Rushing said the bill would remove barriers immigrants face while trying to become legal residents or citizens. Many immigrants, he said, don't know where to get help with immigration issues. Others, he said, are afraid to seek services for fear they'll be deported or later denied citizenship.

Rushing's testimony quickly drew opposition from Rep. Marie Parente, D-Milford, who said the bill would encourage immigrants to come to Massachusetts illegally. Parente was one of only two members who attended the hearing.

"I'm concerned about any law that grants citizenship status to illegal immigrants," she said. "There are not barriers, but hoops these people have to jump through, and they should be required to."

According to a MassINC report released in June, the immigrant population in Massachusetts is at an all-time high, with one in seven residents having been born in a foreign country. The foreign-born share of the labor force has doubled since 1980, to 17 percent, according to the report. The bill would also place into law that the policy of the state is to, "support and encourage any residents in their attempt to obtain legal immigration status and, if they choose, citizenship." The language is modeled after an executive order issued by former Democratic Gov. Michael Dukakis in 1985. That order was later revoked by Republican Gov. William Weld in 1993, following the creation of the Office for Refugees and Immigrants. Rushing said some immigrants now worry that using state services will prevent them from obtaining legal status.

"When they're going through their hearing, they're asked whether they have used state services," Rushing said. "If they have, they are seen as being takers, and not contributing to the state."

He added, "This bill would allow people to come to an agency and find out, 'where do I go?'"

Parente responded, "When you ask where some of them can go, I could tell them where to go."

Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition said the bill ensures state agencies don't discriminate against immigrants.

"This bill doesn't force every state employee to act as a immigration official," he said.

Committee Co-Chair Anthony Cabral, D-New Bedford, supported the bill last year when it was before the former Human Services Committee, and appeared supportive again Monday.

"Immigration is an important thing in Massachusetts," he said. "We are in danger of losing a congressional seat if the population doesn't increase. We need to do something to encourage people to come here."
Herald Interactive Tools

I have a right for them

Get the frige out!

I have directions...

Start out going NORTH on BELNAP RD toward PRESCOTT RD. <0.1 miles Map
2: Turn RIGHT onto CRANMORE RD. <0.1 miles Map
3: Turn LEFT onto TAMWORTH RD. 0.1 miles Map
4: Turn LEFT onto DEAN ST. 0.3 miles Map
5: Turn RIGHT onto PROVIDENCE HWY / US-1 N. Continue to

follow PROVIDENCE HWY. 3.6 miles Map
6: Merge onto I-95 N / MA-128 N toward PEABODY /

PORTSMOUTH NH. 9.3 miles Map
7: Take the I-90 / MASS. PIKE exit- EXIT 25. 0.8 miles

8: Merge onto I-90 W via the exit on the LEFT toward NEW YORK / SPRINGFIELD / FRAMINGHAM (Portions toll). 140.8 miles

9: Merge onto NEW YORK STATE TRWY W (Portions toll). 6.6 miles
10: Merge onto NEW YORK STATE TRWY N / I-87 N toward I-90 / ALBANY / BUFFALO (Portions toll). 15.2 miles

11: NEW YORK STATE TRWY N / I-87 N becomes I-90 W (Portions toll). 447.0 miles Map
12: Take the I-271 S exit- EXIT 190- on the LEFT toward CHAGRIN BLVD / COLUMBUS / EXPRESS LANES. 0.1 miles

13: Merge onto I-271 EXPRESS LN S. 13.4 miles

14: Merge onto I-271 S toward I-480 EAST / I-271 / COLUMBUS. 27.6 miles

15: Merge onto I-71 S. 101.2 miles

16: Merge onto I-270 W via EXIT 119B toward DAYTON. 17.0 miles

17: Merge onto I-70 W via EXIT 8 toward INDIANAPOLIS. 168.6 miles

18: Merge onto I-70 W via EXIT 110B toward ST. LOUIS. 221.1 miles

19: Merge onto I-55 S via the exit on the LEFT toward ST LOUIS. 20.2 miles

20: Merge onto I-55 S via EXIT 40C toward I-44 W. 1.1 miles Map
21: Merge onto I-44 W via EXIT 207 / 290C (Portions toll). 378.2 miles

22: Merge onto I-44 W via EXIT 34 toward TULSA (Portions toll). 106.7 miles

23: I-44 W becomes TURNER TURNPIKE (Portions toll). 0.1 miles

24: TURNER TURNPIKE becomes JOHN KILPATRICK TURNPIKE (Portions toll). 24.5 miles

25: Merge onto I-40 W toward I-40 WEST / YUKON / AMRARILLO. 529.4 miles

26: Merge onto I-25 S via EXIT 159BC toward LAS CRUCES. 227.7 miles

27: Merge onto I-10 W. 138.2 miles

28: Merge onto NM-80 S via EXIT 5 toward ROAD FORKS. 79.9 miles

29: Turn LEFT onto AZ-80 / N A AVE. 1.1 miles

30: Turn LEFT onto 10TH ST. <0.1 miles

31: End at MEXICO

"It's obvious we only benefit from immigrants coming to Massachusetts," Rushing told members of the Legislature's Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Monday. "We should go on record absolutely saying we really want immigrants here and we will do everything we can to get them regularized if they're not."

Look at what this traitor is doing for the American citizens that voted for him! Totally selling them out to big business interests, no doubt.

Many immigrants, he said, don't know where to get help with immigration issues.

Because, you dope, anyone that illegally SNEAKS across our borders doesn't GET help with immigration issues. They broke the our laws....remember? Boot em out..PERIOD!

Others, he said, are afraid to seek services for fear they'll be deported or later denied citizenship

BWAAAA...HAAAAA, as if! They seek "services" they are not entitled to as soon as they get here! Spare me the pity the poor law breaker BS. The only thing they are afraid of is being denied an American taxpayer funded existance.

<img src=http://www.thetaskforce.org/images/boston2872.jpg>
Rep. Byron Rushing

AAAAAAAH (catching breath)! That is SO scary!

There has been a result of the state of Massachusetts history of non enforcement of the issue of illegal immigration and it's lax screening of taxpayer paid public service delivery. Boston Ma. has become the second least affordable city in the United States. A great many people with roots in the Boston community have felt forced out due to the expense of living in or near there.

Immigrants fall in to two categories either they come from places where housing conditions are nowhere as good or they see themselves as being in transit. Illegal aliens given an image of the same housing as a citizen will see the housing as being a step up or only a short term sacrifice. Citizens see that same housing they were used to paying for with a quarter of their income become something which now takes two thirds.

Citizens should stop voting in a politician who expects them to use their tax money to pay for their own displacement from the places their family's lived for generations. Time for a vote to get Rushing out of office.

In Massachusetts the problem is not Mexico in terms of illegal alens it is more Brazil, Central America and the Caribbean.

Traitors to America, that hold a public office, are much like perverts in at least one respect: They rarely look like the monsters they truly are.

Time for a vote to get Rushing out of office.

How this POS got where he is boggles my mind! He need to be gone..yesterday.

As long as illegal immigrants cost municipalties and states more money in benefits than they pay in taxes, drive up the cost of rent and lower wages they are going to remain a legitimate concern for enforcement of every state and municipal employee. A taxpayer funded public service benefit is an incentive to move to local jurisdictions within the U.S.

This guy should be arrested and put in jail.

W