International Institute of New England

10/22/2026

Protect Refugees 📣 The administration recently announced that it will allow 17,500 refugees into the country this year—but nearly all of those slots will go to one population. That means that thousands of people who fled persecution and were approved to enter the country years ago, including allies who supported the U.S. abroad, will remain stranded. Their families will remain separated. Meanwhile, September saw a record number of mass deportations, and refugees who are already in our communities are losing access to food assistance, healthcare, and other essential support. But there is some good news: because of your compassion, refugees are still finding belonging and opportunity in our communities. As we continue to fight to protect their rights, please consider making a donation in support: https://hubs.li/Q04C2Y-B0

10/21/2026

“Every time we help [refugees and immigrants], we win. We fight back against the racism and xenophobia of this administration, and I believe over time, we will prevail,” IINE President and CEO Jeff Thielman shared with the The Boston Globe in response to the president's recent harmful comments about our Somali community members. Despite these attacks, refugees and immigrants still believe in the character of the U.S. that welcomed them and work hard to rebuild their lives here. We stand with them and will continue to speak up to defend their rights and safety. Read the full article below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Remind me: Where have we seen this before, and how did it work out?

10/19/2026

“Immigrants represent nearly a quarter of all licensed practical nurses and clinical technologists. Immigrant workers are especially important to the eldercare system,” IINE SVP and Chief Advancement Officer Alexandra Weber shared in our recent webinar, "The Cost of Closing Doors: Immigration and the U.S. Healthcare System.” In light of rapid U.S. immigration policy changes, Kim Ianiro, Carleton-Willard Village Chief Human Resources Officer, spoke with The Bedford Citizen about the significance of the collaboration between the retirement community and IINE, who work together to place refugee and immigrant workers in healthcare roles. Massachusetts is facing a shortage of qualified healthcare workers, a problem that is only exacerbated by the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The loss of TPS means thousands of qualified and dedicated workers no longer have work authorization. Read the full article to learn more about IINE programs that support our refugee and immigrant neighbors as they build a stronger workforce ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Carleton Willard works with IINE to support immigrant workforce.

10/15/2026

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! 🎉 In 2019, Suitcase Stories® performer Yari Golden-Castaño shared her immigrant story overcoming language barriers and gender stereotypes to achieve her dream. Born in California and raised in Mexico and the United States, Yari became fascinated with space from an early age through her grandmother, who taught her to read using encyclopedias about science and astronomy. Despite the gender-based barriers she faced as a female engineer, she worked her way to becoming one of the 100 finalists for the Mars One mission. Today, she seeks to inspire the next generation of young female scientists and engineers.

Watch her full Suitcase Stories performance here: https://hubs.li/Q04BdhfR0

10/14/2026

Finding Belonging 🏡 In Sudan, Mustafa had completed graduate school and was training to become a doctor. Then, civil war erupted. With millions of people displaced, thousands of civilians killed, and widespread malnutrition and disease, Mustafa was forced to leave his studies, family, and country behind. Once in New England, IINE helped Mustafa to improve his English, adapt to U.S. culture, and build the practical skills he needed to get his dreams back on track. Today, Mustafa has a job helping children with neurodevelopmental disorders, while he continues to pursue his dream career. He has passed the first two parts of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination and has earned certification as a medical assistant. “I didn’t know much about America [before], but now I love this country...[it has] very kind people,” shared Mustafa.

Please consider donating today to give others the chance to rebuild their lives in the U.S.: https://hubs.li/Q04BbMXZ0

10/13/2026

Rising Costs 📈 At our recent webinar, Kim Ianiro, Carleton-Willard Village Chief Human Resources Officer, spoke about how changes in immigration policy are impacting the healthcare industry policy. Carleton-Willard Village, a retirement community in MA, has hired many of our refugee and immigrant clients to provide assisted living care to their aging residents. Kim noted that with the latest laws, there is a significant cost on the business side, as well as the human side. Some staff have lost their jobs and are living with constant fear. Meanwhile, residents miss the talented, compassionate healthcare workers who they grew accustom to seeing every week.

Watch the full webinar to learn more about how immigration policies are harming our economy and communities: https://hubs.li/Q04B3NLF0

10/07/2026

FREE Healthcare Training 🩺 💙 Are you interested in a career in healthcare? Join one of our Certified/Licensed Nursing Assistant (CNA/LNA) programs. Available to non-native English speakers, the Pre-CNA, CNA, and LNA programs provide opportunities to enter the healthcare field, while receiving English-language support and job readiness training.

Learn more about each program and apply today: https://hubs.li/Q04zxdT30

10/06/2026

Riding for a Cause 🚴 🎉 Participants in our annual charity bike ride, “Ride for Refugees and Immigrants” enjoyed a beautiful fall day, cycling 12 or 50 miles in support of our refugee and immigrant community this past Sunday. IINE community members, staff, and board members gathered to cheer on the riders as they passed the finish line at the Kickstand Cafe in Arlington. We are beyond grateful for all who joined us in an event that reminds us, year after year, that welcoming immigrants is a community effort!

The funds raised by our riders will provide our refugee and immigrant neighbors with access to food, English language classes, skills training, employment support, and legal services.

If you haven't already, there is still time to donate! Click here to make a gift today: https://hubs.ly/Q04zkF440

10/05/2026

Happy 📚🍎 On this day, we celebrate the passion and hard work of those who educate us and contribute to the success of the immigrant and refugee community. At IINE, our ESOL instructors provide students with language skills necessary to thrive in their new communities. We appreciate all of IINE’s instructors for their guidance and commitment to our students. To all of our teachers: thank you for all that you do. Your dedication is truly inspirational 🌟

Swipe through to hear from some of our ESOL teachers about what inspires them to teach!

10/05/2026

With the announcement of the refugee ceiling for fiscal year 2027 at just 17,500, once again, the federal administration has distorted the purpose of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program while completely disregarding the scale of mass displacement occurring worldwide. 🌎

🗽 Read the full statement to learn more about the impacts of this cruel policy abroad and at home: https://hubs.li/Q04zbPnS0

Once again, the federal administration has distorted the purpose of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, while ignoring humanitarian need.