Thirty-five years ago, then Boston Mayor Ray Flynn launched the City of Boston’s first Immigrant Rights Unit to help the city's many immigrants with health care and legal services.
The initiative was hailed as the first of its kind in city government across the United States and was launched at a time when federal authorities were cracking down on illegal immigrants in greater Boston, especially Irish, Haitian and Central American arrivals.
The office, which officially opened on October 1, 1987, was led by Henry C. Lutin, and provided free legal advice, heath services, job training and educational resources to those immigrants living in the shadows.
"It is my belief that the right to health care is a human right,” Mayor Flynn said at a press conference at the time.
“The city of Boston must lead the way by setting an example of what a humane government must do in order to assist those who have come to our city in search of a better life.
“As a city we promise there will be a community of compassionate, open-hearted people waiting to welcome you, to help you gain the resources and tools to make good lives for yourselves and your families - out from the shadows of fear,” Flynn said.
The new office at City Hall worked closely with various like-minded immigrant groups in Boston during this time, including the Massachusetts Immigration Committee, the Irish Immigration Reform Movement, the Irish Pastoral Centre of Boston, and the Irish Immigrant Center (now Rian.)
Other supporters of the effort included Catholic Charities, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish American Labor Coalition, the Charitable Irish Society and the Consulate General of Ireland.
This coalition of Irish groups also produced a free 16-page booklet titled, “Guide for the New Irish,” which addressed topics such as Green Cards and Work Visas, Leaving the U.S. and Reentering, Landlords and Tenants and Finding Work Legally.
Today, Boston’s Office of Immigrant Advancement continues to do the tireless work on behalf of immigrants first envisioned by the Immigrant Rights Unit.
And City Council President Ed Flynn, Mayor Flynn’s son, has emerged as a leading advocate for immigrant rights in the City of Boston, so carrying on his father’s work.
Boston’s District Two, which Council President Flynn represents, has one of the city’s most diverse populations, including the largest Asian American community. His City Hall staff includes bi-lingual immigrants who speak Spanish, Cantonese and Mandarin, in addition to English.
