New Bedford’s Role in the Migrant Crisis [TOWNSQUARE SUNDAY]

Helena Hughes of the Immigrants Assistance Center said the migrant crisis at the southern border is impacting communities all across the country, including New Bedford.

"We are seeing an increase in people from Central America, Venezuela and other countries that are coming," Hughes said.

She said migrant families recently housed in Fairhaven and Dartmouth have now been moved to Lowell, and her agency continues to serve migrant families staying in Taunton and Raynham.

Hughes joined Townsquare Sunday to talk about the work being done by her agency, and the IAC's annual Spring Gala being held in May.

Hughes said those families have been "paroled" into the U.S. for the next two years.

"We are working with two state agencies, meeting families where they are staying, making an assessment and looking at all of their immigration paperwork, then upload their information to a state database," she said.

Hughes said it's important none of the families miss court dates or hearings. If they do, they could be subject to arrest or deportation.

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The Immigrants Assistance Center has worked with more than 1,000 children over the past decade, some of whom have been raped, abused and abandoned on their way to the United States.

Hughes said New Bedford High School and Bristol Community College are providing educational programs to help these young people get a leg up. She said the IAC continues to raise money to meet the mental health needs of those children.

Hughes continues to blame both Republicans and Democrats for the lack of action on immigration reform over the past 30 years.

"Both parties are to blame," she said. "They use immigration as a political football, and then do nothing."

The IAC recently celebrated Hughes' 40th anniversary at the agency with a Citizenship Ceremony, where 25 new citizens from 13 countries were sworn in.

The Immigrants Assistance Center is holding its Anniversary Gala on May 10 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kilburn Mill, with all of the money raised to be invested in programs at the center. You can purchase tickets at on the Immigrants Assistance Center website.

Townsquare Sunday is a community affairs broadcast heard Sundays at 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. on WBSM.

If you would like your organization featured on Townsquare Sunday, please email the host at jim.phillips@townsquaremedia.com.