Boston Bar Foundation Funds Translation of BBA Immigration Principles

With a generous grant from the Boston Bar Foundation, the Boston Bar Association will begin distributing translated versions of its guiding principles on immigration policy. Copies of this statement of principles are now available in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Brazilian Portuguese, Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese .

In addition to the principles themselves, the translated flyers contain a list of resources available to those who are facing legal issues related to immigration.

“The Boston Bar Foundation was founded to engage lawyers in helping the most vulnerable members of our society,” BBF President Diana Lloyd said. “By distributing our message in this way, we hope to foster connections between the legal community and the broader community it serves – particularly immigrants who are seeking legal help.”

The Boston Bar Association Council adopted four principles concerning our ongoing immigration advocacy work after establishing a working group of experts and bar leaders this past summer. Earlier this summer, the Boston Bar Association Council appointed a working group to study recent sweeping changes in immigration policy and enforcement practices. Following this review, the working group members published a full report and recommended four principles, which the Council adopted. The Council also voted to adopt three policy positions based on the principles.

“As lawyers, it is our responsibility to support access to justice for everyone, in any way we can,” BBA President Jon Albano said. “By communicating our principles in multiple languages, accompanied by contact information for organizations equipped to help in times of distress, we are reinforcing our commitment to defending immigrants’ rights as fundamental human rights.”

In the weeks and months ahead, the Boston Bar will work with its community partners to circulate these principles to the public. If you wish to obtain copies for use by your organization, PDF files of the principles are available at the links above. You may also contact Access to Justice & Community Outreach Programs Manager Hannah Poor at hpoor@bostonbar.org for more information.

The Boston Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the Boston Bar Association. Its mission is to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in the delivery of legal services, facilitating access to legal counsel in underserved communities, and supporting the public service projects & pro bono work of lawyers in our community.