The rally comes after U.S. Census data showed that the state’s immigrant population boomed over the last 10 years.
BOSTON – Hundreds of immigrants and their advocates held a rally Wednesday at the Massachusetts Statehouse for the 15th annual gathering known as “Immigrant Day.“
The event attracted immigrants from around the state as advocates tried to use the gathering to showcase the state’s immigrant voting power.
“This year is following a very difficult year for immigrants,“ said Franklin Soults, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, citing what he called various “anti-immigrant“ bills in other states. “So we wanted to show the power extra strong.“
The rally comes after U.S. Census data released last month showed that the state’s immigrant population boomed over the last 10 years. The state’s Latino population, for example, grew nearly 50 percent.
Soults said immigrants and their advocates intended to lobby lawmakers throughout the session now to stave off potential cuts to English language classes and health care programs for legal immigrants. He also said immigrants were hopeful that a bill allowing in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants could be revived after other states are moving to pass similar measures.