MLAC funds three grant programs that support Immigrant and Refugee Rights work: the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund, the Massachusetts Immigration Legal Assistance Fund, and the Afghan Refugee Project.
If you need legal assistance, please visit the Legal Help page for contact information of legal aid organizations that provide direct assistance.
Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund
MLAC created the Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund in 2017 in partnership with the City of Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, and a group of foundations, including: Barr Foundation; The Boston Foundation; Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees; The Fish Family Foundation; Foley Hoag; The Hyams Foundation; The Klarman Family Foundation; The Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation; and Mintz Levin. The fund supports legal aid and community organizations that represent and provide legal information to immigrants facing deportation who cannot afford a lawyer.
The Greater Boston Immigrant Defense Fund leverages national funding support as a member of the Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees’ nationwide Delivering on the Dream Initiative. The fund has awarded more than $2 million to a network of legal aid and community organizations—which builds the capacity of Eastern Massachusetts to protect vulnerable immigrants, refugees, and temporary status holders and respond to federal policy shifts.
Organizations that receive GBIDF funds:
- Brazilian Worker Center
- Catholic Social Services of Fall River
- Centro Presente
- Essex County Community Organization
- Greater Boston Legal Services
- Immigrant Family Services Institute
- La Colaborativa
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- MetroWest Legal Services
- Northeast Legal Aid
- PAIR Project
- South Coastal Counties Legal Services
Massachusetts Immigration Legal Assistance Fund
In 2019, with funding from an anonymous donor, MLAC created the Massachusetts Immigration Legal Assistance Fund to respond to persistent unmet legal needs among vulnerable immigrant and refugee populations in the Commonwealth. MILAF provides funding to organizations that work to fill the gaps within services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. MILAF’s aim is to protect the rights of vulnerable immigrants so they can pursue a stable future. The fund has awarded more than $3 million to twelve organizations, providing direct legal services, community education, and systemic advocacy that benefit large groups of immigrants.
Organizations that receive MILAF funds:
- Community Legal Aid
- Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts
- De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
- Greater Boston Legal Services
- Health Law Advocates
- Justice at Work
- Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
- Northeast Legal Aid
- PAIR Project
- Prisoners’ Legal Services
- Rian Immigrant Center
- South Coastal Counties Legal Services
Afghan Refugee Project
In 2022, three philanthropic partners provided funding for MLAC to create a program to assist Afghan refugees in filing and completing their legal status applications and resolutions in the Greater Boston area. Additional support was received from two resettlement agencies to fund five dedicated attorneys for this project.
Organizations that receive ARP funds: