City immigration office says legal‑access demand outstrips grants as federal policy raises pressure
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
Monique Wynne told the Ways and Means Committee that MOIA handled nearly 4,000 inquiries in FY25 and that legal‑access grant demand far exceeded funding: FY25 applications requested about $3.2 million but MOIA funded roughly $700,000; FY26 requests totaled about $2.3 million with funding near $900,000. Councilors discussed expanding local resources and participatory budgeting results backing immigrant legal defense.
Monique Wynne, director of the Mayor’s Office of Immigration Advancement, told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on March 5 that demand for immigration legal services and community grants is outpacing available city funding as federal supports shrink. Wynne briefed councilors on MOIA program outputs and explained that the office uses most of its budget for grantmaking to community partners.
Wynne summarized MOIA’s FY25 throughput: nearly 4,000 constituent inquiries and about 1,000 free volunteer legal consultations, and the office said it had moved roughly $2.1 million to community partners for services. She said grant applications for legal access exceeded the available pool—MOIA received 41 applications in FY25 requesting just over $3.2 million and funded about $700,000; in FY26 there were 31 applications requesting roughly $2.3 million and MOIA funded about $900,000.
Why it matters: councilors flagged the rise in immigration‑related enforcement and expressed concern that federal policy changes could increase need for legal representation and other supports. Wynne said MOIA is expanding programs such as the immigrant youth advancement program (formerly the Dreamers Fund), scaling ESOL and immigration consultations, and seeking external philanthropic partners to stretch city funds.
Council response and community input: councilors asked for detail on MOIA’s budget and donors; several pledged support for greater city investment. Public witness Eliza Perad (Better Budget Alliance) told the committee participatory budgeting and a city survey identified immigrant legal defense, fresh food access and housing stability as top community priorities ahead of FY27 budget choices.
Administration next steps: Wynne said MOIA will coordinate with the budget office (OBM) and the city’s finance team on FY27 requests; the office asked the council to consider protecting or increasing local operating support in light of federal funding losses. The committee did not vote on any items; councilors and MOIA staff agreed to follow up with requested budget detail.