- Office of the Attorney General
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Sydney Weiser, Deputy Communications Director
BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today encouraged Haitian and Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to review their immigration options with a qualified attorney and shared resources to help individuals find trusted legal assistance and avoid immigration-related scams.
While the Supreme Court’s decision allows the federal government to terminate TPS protections for Haiti and Syria, the current TPS designations and related work authorizations remain in effect until the Supreme Court sends a certified copy of its judgement to the lower court and the federal administration issues implementation guidance.
“This is an uncertain and difficult time for thousands of Massachusetts families. As we continue to urge the federal government to reverse course and extend TPS, I encourage everyone affected to review their legal options and speak with a qualified immigration attorney as soon as possible,” said AG Campbell. “My office is committed to helping our immigrant communities understand their rights, connect with trusted legal resources, and avoid scams by individuals who falsely claim they can provide legal services.”
“As we see the wide-ranging negative impacts of the decision by the Supreme Court to allow the Trump administration to terminate TPS for Haitians and Syrians, the MIRA Coalition remains steadfast in ensuring immigrants have access to credible and necessary legal resources,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the MIRA Coalition. “We are grateful for the continued partnership with Attorney General Campbell's office, and urge immigrants in need of assistance to call MIRA’s immigration advocate legal helpline or other trusted legal resources.”
Legal Assistance
Individuals seeking immigration legal assistance should visit the following resources:
- Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder: masslrf.org/en/home
- MIRA Immigration Helpline: miracoalition.org/news/immigration-helpline/
- Nationwide Immigration Lawyer Search: ailalawyer.com
Individuals who have been recently detained by ICE should contact The Legal Representation Fund (LRF) at (617) 637-8195. Family members and friends of individuals detained by ICE can contact LRF at (617) 396-7143.
Individuals who are currently involved in immigration court proceedings and are facing deportation should contact The Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative (MACI) at (508) 505-4588.
Additional supports and services are available through Massachusetts’s Family Resource Centers, supported by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Children and Families. Family Resource Centers can be found at www.frcma.org/.
Mass 211 is a statewide information system for resources in all categories, including food, shelter, health care, and immigration. Contact Mass 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.mass211.org.
More resources and information can be found on the Attorney General’s Office’s Immigrant Resources Webpage.
Avoiding Immigration Scams (“Notario Fraud”)
Before hiring someone for immigration assistance:
- Verify that the individual is a licensed attorney or accredited representative online, here.
There are also a limited number of “Accredited Representatives” who are not attorneys but are permitted to help with immigration matters. You can check to see if you are working with an Accredited Representative online, here.
Some helpful tips for recognizing and avoiding Notario fraud include:
- You should never have to pay to access any immigration forms. All immigration forms are available to download free from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
- Do not sign a contract or agreement you don’t understand. Always ask to have these documents translated into your native language, if needed.
- Never sign a blank form.
- Get copies of every document that you sign and keep all of your original personal documents (for example, your passport, diploma, or birth certificate).
- Insist on a receipt for every payment you make, including cash payments.
- Ask for copies of all documents filed with the immigration court or USCIS on your behalf. You are entitled to copies of these documents.
If you find out that the person you are working with is not a licensed attorney or authorized representative, immediately stop using their services and seek out legitimate legal services here. Anyone suspected of Notario fraud should be reported to the AGO’s Civil Rights Division online, or by calling (617) 963-2917.
Additional information on Notario fraud, including in multiple languages, may be found here.
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