A three-pronged strategy for supporting our immigrant neighbors
Boston could be the next target of federal action. We must be ready.
by Lee Pelton, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation
March 5, 2026
The reach of recent federal actions is no longer abstract or distant. Millions of Americans have felt their impact, including hundreds of thousands here in Massachusetts. What we have witnessed in communities from Minneapolis to Maine should dispel any illusion that this cannot happen here. Boston could be next.
In the face of these realities, I am also reminded that our nation was founded not on what is, but on what it might be at its absolute best. We have witnessed this spirit in the people of Minneapolis and Maine, and in many other states, including the Commonwealth. Their successes in the face of oppression underscore that no single entity can address our challenges as effectively as a community rising together for justice. Democracy depends on partnership, and indeed, we are seeing those partnerships forming, planning, and taking action.
"If we are to meet this moment, we must do so together, committed to justice, dignity, equity, and the common good. "
As scores of organizations and thousands of people are stepping up against this ongoing federal assault, the Boston Foundation has joined its efforts with other foundations, committed donors, resolute volunteers, and determined nonprofits. Together, we are stepping up to meet the needs of the youngest and oldest among us, of immigrants, of people experiencing homelessness, of college students, and of those with disabilities and medical needs who need and deserve our support. Just as during COVID, Greater Boston nonprofits of all sizes and stripes are bringing attention and resources to address critical needs at a critical time.
With threats still lurking, this is not a time to stand on the sidelines, but rather to commit ourselves to service and compassion in the face of mounting social inequities, so we might contribute to a more just society, improve lives and strengthen communities.
As a Foundation, we are launching a three-pronged strategy that we feel will provide critical support, and could serve as a road map for people seeking to support their neighbors.
First, we must protect our neighbors facing immediate threats.
Immigrant families, and the organizations that serve them, are under increasing pressure, and demand for legal support is rising quickly. Through a new program, Meeting the Moment: Supporting Our Immigrant Neighbors, we will expand our support of legal aid and community-based efforts that defend rights, provide representation, and help families navigate systems that have become increasingly complex and intimidating. This is about standing with our neighbors at a moment when the need is urgent.
We must also prepare ourselves and our communities for the longer-term fight. Even as we overcome immediate threats, we must also offer direct, flexible resources to organizations serving the most vulnerable, including immigrant serving organizations and communities experiencing the greatest strain from the bureaucratic siege by our federal government.
And advancing this work also depends on truth-telling. At a time when too much of the public conversation about immigrants has been driven by misinformation, and access to data is being limited and distorted, investing in research, local journalism and storytelling initiatives can cut through the web of disinformation. For us, Boston Indicators will play a central role, alongside other immigrant-focused research organizations, to pair data with lived experience to inform public understanding, guide philanthropic investment, and support policies rooted in evidence.
Forces opposing justice and equity have always existed, and when they get louder and push harder against what we know is right, history shows we must not only hold our ground, but we must be prepared to do more.
Boston is not immune, but neither are we powerless. Not all is as it should be in this land of plenty, but “what might be” is ours to shape. Democracy endures only when people and institutions act with conscience, courage, and care. If we are to meet this moment, we must do so together, committed to justice, dignity, equity, and the common good.
This op-ed was shared by CommonWealth Beacon on March 5, 2026.
