Boston Increases Funding for Immigrant Legal Defense Amid Federal Scrutiny
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration is seeking increased budgetary support for the Office of Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) to bolster legal defense resources for immigrants as federal immigration enforcement intensifies. The move comes as the city faces potential funding cuts due to its sanctuary city policies.
Rising Demand for Legal Assistance
Monique Tú Nguyen, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement, told city councilors that the demand for legal assistance is outpacing the office’s current capacity. “Every week, 50 more people call us for legal help we can’t immediately provide,” Nguyen stated during a City Council hearing on Thursday. “Our partners are asking for more support because the need is rising.” Boston Herald
Budget Allocations and Growth
The proposed increase comes after Mayor Wu allocated nearly a third of the city’s $2.2 million in participatory budgeting funds for fiscal year 2026 to strengthen protections for immigrants. This included $400,000 for an immigrant legal defense fund and $300,000 for career pathways programming focused on language and employment support. Boston Herald
An analysis by the Boston Herald reveals that the MOIA budget has grown by 21% over the past four years, increasing from $2.95 million in fiscal year 2023 to $3.57 million in fiscal year 2026. The budget experienced a significant increase during the first year of the Trump administration, rising from $2.84 million in fiscal year 2024 to nearly $3.69 million in fiscal year 2025. Boston Herald
Federal Pressure and the Trust Act
Wu administration officials acknowledged the financial challenges the city faces due to potential federal funding cuts for sanctuary cities. Boston’s “Trust Act” limits cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. Boston Herald
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons recently stated that the Boston Police Department ignored 167 federal immigration detainer requests in 2025, a figure that differs from the 57 reported by the city’s police commissioner. Lyons attributed the ignored requests to the Trust Act, which prohibits cooperation with ICE on civil detainers in certain criminal matters. Boston Herald
Funding Priorities and Community Impact
Tú Nguyen indicated that the office would prioritize funding for legal defense for immigrants this year. In fiscal year 2026, the city dedicated $900,000 in grant funding to legal defense programs, but was only able to meet 39% of the 31 applications received, totaling $2.3 million in requested funding. The legal defense budget for fiscal year 2025 was $700,000. Boston Herald
MOIA’s budget is approximately two-thirds funded by grants and one-third by city funds. Nguyen emphasized the office’s role as an “anchor for a city-wide ecosystem” serving over 200,000 foreign-born residents, distributing $2.1 million to community partners for services like mental health support and legal defense. Boston Herald
Council Support
City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune expressed strong support for increasing the city’s immigration budget, reiterating the Council’s commitment to investing in legal resources for the immigrant community. Boston Herald
Mayor Wu is expected to propose her annual city budget to the Council in April.