In a progressive move toward bolstering the rights and opportunities for immigrants and refugees, the Healey-Driscoll administration recently announced its plan to provide additional legal aid services for new arrivals in Massachusetts' emergency shelter system, underscoring the state's commitment to creating an equitable and inclusive society. The Refugee Legal Services program will enable resettlement agencies to offer expanded help to new arrivals and asylum seekers in filing work authorization applications according to Massgov.
This initiative will be administered by refugee resettlement agencies that already partner with the state to provide case management and legal services to refugees seeking resettlement. The objective of the program is to allow shelter residents to begin working sooner, relieving the pressure on the Emergency Assistance system.
As reported on Mass.gov, Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kimberley Driscoll both emphasized their commitment to helping newly arrived families in Massachusetts lead fruitful lives by speeding up the work authorization process. These work authorizations typically act as a barrier for new arrivals after they have finally secured a haven within the state.
Beginning with the Refugee Immigrant Assistance Center, Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, and the Organization for Immigrant and Refugee Success, legal services will expand to a total of eight resettlement agencies by mid-October, covering more than 40 temporary emergency shelters. As part of this initiative, these agencies will receive funding from the state to cover the costs of filing fees, enabling them to expedite the work authorization process.
Eligible individuals include new arrivals and asylum seekers who have legally entered the United States through the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP1 app) pre-scheduled appointment system for asylum seekers. Resettlement agencies will provide a comprehensive range of services, from filing work authorizations and pro-se asylum applications, to conducting follow-ups and ensuring families attend any essential appointments required to finalize the process.
According to the Mass.gov article, the full expansion of the Refugee Legal Services program is expected to cover more than 70 percent of shelters in the state that currently lack service providers. Successful work authorization applications can generally be completed within six to eight weeks, substantially alleviating the waiting period for individuals eager to begin their new lives.
In addition to obtaining work authorizations, resettlement agencies also offer wraparound services that include helping people search for housing and employment, as well as enrolling in English as a Second Language classes.
The legal assistance provided through the Refugee Legal Services program is a supplement to the Immigrant Assistance Services (IAS) program that is managed by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. The IAS program currently operates primarily within staffed shelters, assisting families with limited pathways to work authorization. This new initiative, however, focuses on new arrivals who can immediately apply for work authorizations due to changes in federal policy and their legal entry at the border through the CBP1 app.
At present, Massachusetts' shelter system accommodates over 6,500 families, a number that represents both new arrivals and long-term residents of the state. It is estimated that more than a third of the current shelter population consists of new arrivals. Families who are wholly undocumented or who have not received acknowledgment from federal immigration authorities are not eligible for Emergency Assistance shelter.
