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Here's how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts

The new federal Trump Accounts program offers $1,000 to eligible babies.

Money

Tens of thousands of Massachusetts families are among the first to apply for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump Accounts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/10/14/ohio-trump-accounts-eligibility-privacy" data-vars-content-id="c49a2008-1cf0-41db-91e2-8078c33845a3" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cincinnati/2026/10/14/ohio-trump-accounts-eligibility-privacy" target="_self">Trump Accounts</a>, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal investment program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/18/trump-accounts-for-kids-what-to-know-how-sign-up" data-vars-content-id="c49a2008-1cf0-41db-91e2-8078c33845a3" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s how many in Massachusetts signed up for Trump Accounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/18/trump-accounts-for-kids-what-to-know-how-sign-up" target="_self">federal investment program</a> for babies. Why it matters: The program, which offers $1,000 to eligible babies, is meant to give American children a financial head start.

Mass. fraud scheme made $6M off "sham" marriages, feds say

Authorities charged six people in connection with the alleged immigration marriage fraud ring.

Politics

Federal authorities accused six Massachusetts residents of orchestrating a decade-long marriage fraud ring, marrying themselves off to immigrants repeatedly to help them obtain green card status.The big picture: The charges put a spotlight on Massachusetts&#x27; status as a welcoming state for immigrants regardless of legal status, weeks before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.<ul><li>The lead defendant, Jennifer Gonzalez of Fall River, allegedly exploited the state&#x27;s reputation, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said.</li><li>Gonzalez allegedly told a witness, whom she believed to be an undocumented immigrant, &quot;Massachusetts is the best place for you to be.&quot;</li></ul>

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News

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The rising costs that Massachusetts' poverty rate overlooks

On paper, Massachusetts fared better than other states. Rising costs tell a different story.

On paper, the poverty rate looks worse in Ohio, West Virginia and Oklahoma than in Massachusetts.<ul><li>But factor in the cost of living, and all three states fared better in recent years, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new U.S. Census Bureau data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/us-economy-income-census" data-vars-content-id="3e9c97a4-e989-4dab-9919-7a8a3da5fe5a" data-vars-headline="The rising costs that Massachusetts&#x27; poverty rate overlooks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/16/us-economy-income-census" target="_self">new U.S. Census Bureau data</a>.</li></ul>

Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts 

An earthquake has killed hundreds and displaced thousands in western Colombia.

Culture

Boston-area Colombians are raising funds and collecting supplies to support relief efforts after a 7.4-magnitude <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="earthquake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/14/how-miamians-can-help-colombia-earthquake-relief-efforts" data-vars-content-id="68ef0d29-7920-4be5-a844-e5a30a59ec8b" data-vars-headline="Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/08/14/how-miamians-can-help-colombia-earthquake-relief-efforts" target="_self">earthquake</a> rocked the Latin American nation.The big picture: Massachusetts is home to an estimated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="42,000 residents," data-vars-click-url="https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/lists/colombian-population-in-massachusetts-by-city/" data-vars-content-id="68ef0d29-7920-4be5-a844-e5a30a59ec8b" data-vars-headline="Boston-area Colombians mobilize to support earthquake relief efforts " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.neilsberg.com/insights/lists/colombian-population-in-massachusetts-by-city/" target="_blank">42,000 residents,</a> the nation’s sixth-largest Colombian population.<ul><li>East Boston is unofficially considered New England’s “Little Colombia.”</li></ul>

Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average

Deportations cost one town's taxpayers ten times as much, projections suggest.

Immigration

Massachusetts taxpayers will end up paying over $3,200 each on average for President <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="0ee992a2-ce20-4b73-89d7-fd9db211cb71" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump&#x27;s</a> mass deportation push, according to a new calculator tool from the Economic Policy Institute.<ul><li>And taxpayers in one town will pay tenfold. </li></ul>Why it matters: The estimate fuels debate over whether billions of federal dollars devoted to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" data-vars-content-id="0ee992a2-ce20-4b73-89d7-fd9db211cb71" data-vars-headline="Trump deportations cost Mass. taxpayers $3,200 each on average" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/15/ice-deportations-us-immigration-trump-biden-2025" target="_self">deportations</a> should instead fund other public priorities such as food assistance, health care or housing.

Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash

Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill limiting local police from interacting with federal immigration agents.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed a bill Wednesday that limits local police from interacting with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="federal immigration agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" data-vars-content-id="e2b06598-2e1d-4964-9f6f-43b83500d070" data-vars-headline="Mass. passes law limiting ICE. Now comes the backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/13/boston-prepares-ice-surge-wu-plans" target="_self">federal immigration agents</a>.The big picture: The signing ceremony drew cheers from hundreds who packed into La Collaborativa in Chelsea.<ul><li>And it swiftly drew rebukes from critics accusing Healey of doubling down on the sanctuary label she&#x27;s shied away from during her reelection campaign.</li></ul>

Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill

The chances of Congress voting to extend temporary protections for Haiti become slimmer.

Dozens of people gathered inside <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ula Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/ulacafe/p/DbdeVu1lUsT/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="133e6eff-94f2-4c4b-8614-9a8ca0a985a6" data-vars-headline="Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/ulacafe/p/DbdeVu1lUsT/?hl=en" target="_blank">Ula Cafe</a> and called a list of U.S. senators Tuesday, urging them to pass a bill extending <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Temporary Protected Status" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/temporary-protected-status-tps-trump-immigration" data-vars-content-id="133e6eff-94f2-4c4b-8614-9a8ca0a985a6" data-vars-headline="Boston cafe turns into phone bank for Haitian TPS bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/12/07/temporary-protected-status-tps-trump-immigration" target="_self">Temporary Protected Status</a> for Haiti.The big picture: This Jamaica Plain cafe is one of several businesses and nonprofits nationwide pushing for congressional intervention now that TPS has expired for some 350,000 Haitians.

PROTECT Act: What's in the Mass. immigrant protections bill

The proposal includes what some activists call a carve out allowing 287(g) agreements.

A bill that would bolster <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigrant protections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/29/protect-act-massachusetts-haiti-tps-limbo" data-vars-content-id="aa0adfeb-e85d-4152-8bfe-e234b053653c" data-vars-headline="PROTECT Act: What&#x27;s in the Mass. immigrant protections bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/29/protect-act-massachusetts-haiti-tps-limbo" target="_self">immigrant protections</a> in Massachusetts nears the finish line this week.Why it matters: The proposal would limit police from interacting with federal immigration agents in most cases and outline how schools, daycares, hospitals and other public-facing institutions respond to agents.

Mass. lawmakers advance Protect Act amid Haitian TPS limbo

The final bill comes as Haitian TPS holders retreat from public life, fearing ICE detention.

Massachusetts lawmakers plan to vote Thursday on a proposal to limit immigration enforcement and bolster protections for immigrants, Sen. Cindy Friedman said.The big picture: The proposal would codify due process protections for immigrants, including Haitians who recently lost <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Temporary Protected Status," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/25/supreme-court-massachusetts-tps-haiti" data-vars-content-id="63b464ce-9af7-4647-9b14-79f554dbf29b" data-vars-headline="Mass. lawmakers advance Protect Act amid Haitian TPS limbo" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/25/supreme-court-massachusetts-tps-haiti" target="_self">Temporary Protected Status,</a> at a time when federal agents are reportedly ramping up immigration enforcement.

How Sail250 connects a diaspora

Dozens of military ships from 21 countries are berthed along the Boston Harbor until Thursday.

America at 250

Sail Boston and the Colombian tall ship&#x27;s visit brought something I&#x27;ve never experienced with my family in Medellín: a chance to learn about our nation&#x27;s maritime history.<ul><li>So I put on my Colombia jersey and headed to Pier 11 in Charlestown on Sunday.</li></ul>

TPS holders at risk of losing work permits sue Trump administration

TPS holders from three countries could lose their work authorization as soon as July 22.

While the future of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Temporary Protected Status" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/26/haiti-syria-tps-boston-next-steps" data-vars-content-id="a319b509-11b0-437d-b53e-daeb4fc6afa4" data-vars-headline="TPS holders at risk of losing work permits sue Trump administration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/06/26/haiti-syria-tps-boston-next-steps" target="_self">Temporary Protected Status</a> remains in limbo, TPS recipients across Massachusetts could lose their jobs as soon as July 22.Why it matters: Delays in processing renewal applications are colliding with new restrictions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.<ul><li>The result: Tens of thousands of TPS holders could be without work authorization while they wait for work permits they applied to renew earlier this year.</li></ul>

Boston-area Haitian leaders brace for next steps after TPS ruling

"We have no choice but to be victorious," Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune said Thursday.

Haitian families across Greater Boston were still coming off the high of watching their national team score two goals in the World Cup when they started learning the news.<ul><li>The Supreme Court had ruled that the Trump administration could end <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Temporary Protected Status," data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/20/nearly-5000-mass-haitians-at-risk-as-protections-expire" data-vars-content-id="c782cb59-9d67-4807-8bbf-f0e9e8802857" data-vars-headline="Boston-area Haitian leaders brace for next steps after TPS ruling" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/01/20/nearly-5000-mass-haitians-at-risk-as-protections-expire" target="_self">Temporary Protected Status,</a> a designation that elders, neighbors and young adults had relied on for years.</li></ul>

A choropleth map showing the estimated cost per taxpayer for federal immigrant deportation and detention funding across the U.S. states. The average cost is $2.4k. Washington, D.C., has the highest load, at $3.9k.

Estimated cost per taxpayer for federal immigrant deportation and detainment funding

The cost per taxpayer in Boston is at least $3,988. Data: Economic Policy Institute; Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios