The Marblehead Democratic Town Committee voted to establish an immigration subcommittee during its Jan. 27 meeting at Abbott Library, mobilizing local resources as immigrant communities grapple with a wave of executive orders from the Trump administration.
The initiative comes as immigration advocates report mounting anxiety over policy changes that could affect thousands of Essex County residents, including attempts to revoke birthright citizenship and expand expedited deportations without judicial review.
“Is it as bad as it seems? I hate to say it is,” immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis told attendees. Baylis, who serves on the House of Seven Gables Board of Trustees and works with clients from around the world, outlined numerous policy shifts that could impact local immigrant communities.
“These people are all on temporary status visas … Unfortunately, these visas do not provide a pathway to citizenship, and a lot of them will end after two years.”
The scope of potential impact became clear as committee members shared county-level data showing that immigrant households represent a significant portion of the local community. According to figures presented by Jeanne Lambkin from the Essex Community Foundation, approximately 132,500 immigrants live in Essex County, comprising 16.9% of the population. Nearly a quarter of county households — 22.6% — include at least one immigrant member.
“How we survive in the next coming days, weeks … is going to be rooted in community,” Lambkin said. “And I’m here to say that [this] community acts. And how do we act? Through structure, through organization, through process, through signing up for action.”
The economic stakes are substantial, she said. In 2019, immigrant households in Essex County earned $4.8 billion, contributing $841.7 million in federal taxes and $425.4 million in state and local taxes. Their contribution to the region’s gross domestic product totaled $9.5 billion.
The subcommittee has already begun compiling resources, creating a database of 40 organizations within Essex County that provide immigrant services. Committee member Cathy Marie Michael announced several upcoming events, including a campaign launch by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition on Jan. 29 at the State House.
“The most important thing that MIRA wants is for people to know their rights,” Michael said, highlighting a February 6 training session. The organization offers recorded sessions on miracoalition.org and sells cards containing essential rights information.
Recent policy changes have particularly alarmed local advocates. Trump’s reversal of protections for immigrants at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals has raised concerns, though Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King has indicated the department will maintain its existing approach, only detaining individuals with judicial warrants or probable cause for new crimes.
Baylis emphasized that community members don’t need legal expertise to make a difference.
“You don’t have to be an immigration attorney to help immigrants,” she said, suggesting roles like volunteer interpretation and transportation assistance. She shared a touching example of a volunteer who helped an Afghan family navigate court proceedings despite language barriers: “She did not speak their language, but she communicated through the kids who knew a little bit of English … When it was lunch time, she found a place for them to eat, and then she was so helpful because she was so close to the kids, she knew exactly what questions to ask them to fill out forms on behalf of the adults.”
The subcommittee plans to participate in several upcoming advocacy events, including immigration training workshops on March 18 and a Lobby Day at the State House on March 19. They will also support existing initiatives like the House of Seven Gables’ citizenship classes and upcoming “Know Your Rights” presentation on Feb. 27.
Local organizations are already seeing impacts from recent policy changes.
“We were expecting about 50 people coming from Afghanistan, and we could get ready to rally to do some support,” Lambkin said, discussing her work with the International Institute of New England. “You will not be surprised when we connected this week that has been canceled.”
For residents interested in supporting immigrant neighbors, the committee identified several immediate needs, including volunteer interpreters, transportation assistance, and housing support for refugees. Those interested in offering temporary housing can contact Lindsay Popperson through Old North Church, responding to urgent needs created by shelter capacity issues.
The subcommittee’s formation, Lambkin said, reflects growing concern about both immediate and long-term impacts of new immigration policies. Among the most concerning changes, according to Baylis, are plans to make naturalization more difficult through stricter testing requirements and potential processing delays.
“Under Trump, we’re going to see much tougher literacy and civics exams, and we may also see delay tactics from USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services) in processing integration applications,” Baylis explained. She noted that even seemingly minor procedural changes, such as eliminating grace periods for application updates, could significantly impact immigrants pursuing citizenship. To learn more, fill out marbleheaddems.org/contact-us.
