Hundreds rally in Massachusetts for Immigrants Day event

Hundreds of people gathered at the Massachusetts State House to celebrate the 29th annual Immigrants Day. The event took place on Wednesday morning and was organized to support immigrant communities facing strict federal enforcement. The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition hosted the event. Participants filled the Hall of Flags to show that immigrants are not alone and to help ease their fears. Emmanuel Owusu, an immigrant from Africa, spoke about the challenges immigrants face. He emphasized that Massachusetts continues to support them, despite federal actions. Sarang Sekhavat, Chief of Staff at the MIRA Coalition, shared concerns about immigrants with legal status being treated unfairly. He noted that while the state cannot stop federal policies, it should not aid in enforcement. Many attendees voiced worries about their jobs. This concern grew after President Trump announced that he would end temporary protection status for half a million Haitians living in the U.S. Massachusetts has the third-largest Haitian population in the country, and immigrants make up 16% of the state’s population.