Activists for immigrants seek support
Vowing to renew their fight for expanded immigrant rights, activist groups yesterday urged the immigrant community to reach out to state legislators and share their stories and hardships of migration.
''The results of the 2004 election show that the Commonwealth is supportive of immigrant issues," said Ali Noorani, the executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, which sponsored a Thanksgiving lunch at the State House.
Next year the coalition plans to seek passage of a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state universities. In addition, it plans to push to reinstate medical benefits for elderly immigrants through MassHealth, to improve access to driver's licenses, and to fund English-as-a-second-language programs.
Earlier this year, Governor Mitt Romney vetoed a budget provision that would have provided in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. He also changed a provision for blanket healthcare coverage to legal immigrants, instead providing coverage only when a legal immigrant's sponsor died or couldn't pay healthcare costs.
''I came here for the opportunity to go to college and get a better job, and have a better life," said a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant from Vietnam who asked only to be identified as Lee. He said he has had to put off his dream of majoring in business at the University of Massachusetts Lowell because he is not considered a state resident even though he has lived in Lowell for six years.
Lee was one of nearly 200 immigrants and refugees from across Massachusetts who gathered to share stories and celebrate their families, especially those who remain in their home countries.
In some cases, immigrants are separated from family for years. Juliet Sithole, a 41-year-old refugee from Zimbabwe, sought political asylum four years ago while she was studying for her masters in community development at the University of New Hampshire. In Zimbabwe she had fought for open elections, a move that caused her family to be abused and threatened by the government there. She left behind two children, then 5 and 12.
''Waiting for my children to come here has been the hardest thing," she said with tears in her eyes. ''I don't know how they are growing up."
Still, she holds out hope.
''I am thankful there is light at the end of the tunnel," Sithole said. ''My children are approved [for asylum] and they're waiting for an exact date from the Zimbabwean government."
