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Massachusetts
Thousands of migrants legally fled to Mass. under a Biden-era policy. Trump’s latest directive could change everything. – The Boston Globe
Migrants who entered under two programs — the CBP One application migrants used to schedule appointments to enter the US, and a Biden administration initiative that let in certain migrants fleeing Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Haiti — could be affected by the memo, which was signed late Thursday by the acting head of the Homeland Security Department.
A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In Massachusetts, advocates estimate that tens of thousands of people came to the state under these humanitarian provisions, which give temporary permission to stay in the United States. Many of the migrants who have made their way to the state have spent months waiting in Mexico, at migrant shelters or in rented rooms, in cities that are rife with cartel violence and kidnappings.
They do this, many have told the Globe, for an opportunity to enter the US legally, and work in the country with authorization, under the Biden era programs that looked to curb illegal border crossings and offer legal pathways for entry.
But now, some of these migrants could be under threat of being targeted for deportation, particularly if they have yet not applied for another legal status, such as asylum or Temporary Protected status, legal advocates say.
These families, Yountz said, “have followed all of the rules under the previous administration.”
“Trump has said he’s going after murderers and criminals. But in reality, his strategy is quite lazy,” Yountz said. “He’s going after people who followed the rules and are currently in legal parole status because they willingly offered their name and addresses to the federal government.”
Jeffrey Thielman, who runs the Boston resettlement agency International Institute of New England, served 16,000 people with humanitarian parole status in 2024 alone. This large class of immigrants include many families that fled desperate conditions or war in their home countries.
On Friday, he told his staff to “keep your heads down” and continue to help connect clients with federal benefits, English classes, and to coordinate apartment searches. His staff also work to enroll children in schools, sign families up for medical insurance, and prepare people for job interviews, among other things.
“It’s unethical and immoral that the United States of America allowed people into this country for humanitarian purposes and is now turning their backs on them,” he said. “It’s fundamentally wrong. This is not the way the rule of law should work.”
Humanitarian parole has been used as a legal tool for decades, allowing people admission to the country who were unable to use other pathways because of political and economic strife or their home country’s poor relations with the United States. Under the Biden administration, half a million Cubans, Haitian, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans were welcomed as part of the program, which allowed migrants to live and work lawfully for two years while they applied for longer-term status.
The move to undo the protection, which was first reported by the New York Times, is one of a flurry of actions the Trump administration has taken in recent days to follow through on his campaign promises of cracking down on immigration.
Yountz, the immigration attorney, said while there are thousands of immigrants in Massachusetts under these humanitarian provisions, most have either applied for, or received, Temporary Protected Status or asylum, which would seem to offer a layer of protection of deportation under this memo, Yountz said.
It does not mean that these residents “are going to fall into undocumented status,” Yountz said.
“This is not a wholesale revocation of parole,” Yountz said.
But those who have not applied for other kinds of status and are just here under parole appear to be particularly vulnerable.
“We are concerned. There is a vagueness to this memo, and many of Trump’s orders, that make it unclear who will, or will not be, swept up,” she said.
Regardless, Pastor Dieufort Fleurissaint, better known as Pastor Keke, a prominent advocate in Greater Boston’s Haitian American community, called this a “heart-wrenching situation.”
He has been receiving a flurry of calls since Monday, when the Trump administration released a stream of executive orders, many of them immigration-related, from concerned Haitians in Massachusetts asking how they would be affected by the new rules.
Since many were in the country legally under humanitarian provisions, Pastor Keke tried to assuage their fears, assuring them they would likely be safe. But when he saw the news of the internal memo last night, his heart sank.
“I’m very worried, because they [ICE] already know where these people are located,” he said. “This is the reality, and we have to face it.”
Already, he has heard that some migrants are avoiding their English classes, health appointments, and staying home because they’re panicked.
“That news last night will heighten the tension,” he said. “Now, even people with humanitarian provisions are not immune from deportation . . . this is a very, very critical situation.”
Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio can be reached at giulia.mcdnr@globe.com. Follow her @giuliamcdnr. Samantha J. Gross can be reached at samantha.gross@globe.com. Follow her @samanthajgross.
BOSTON, MA — An international restaurant group with locations across the globe is preparing to open its first Massachusetts restaurant this year.
LPM Restaurant & Bar, a French Riviera-inspired restaurant founded in London, is set to open on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street in Back Bay, according to Four Seasons. The hotel lists the restaurant as “Opening Summer 2026,” while the Boston Business Journal reported the restaurant plans to open in September.
The Boston restaurant will mark LPM’s debut in the Northeast and its third U.S. outpost, following locations in Miami and Las Vegas, according to a Four Seasons announcement.
LPM, also known as La Petite Maison, was founded in London in 2007 and is known for French-Mediterranean food, Mediterranean ingredients and dining rooms influenced by Belle Époque design.
The business operates locations in London, Dubai, Miami, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Limassol, Doha, Mykonos, Kuwait, Boston, Maldives and Bangkok.
Four Seasons said LPM will take over the space that formerly housed One Dalton’s breakfast concept, One + One. The restaurant will join other dining options at the hotel, including Zuma and Trifecta.
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer
A Massachusetts high school is under investigation after “several” teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions.
The state Department of Public Health is set to visit Uxbridge High School on Thursday to “conduct a series of air quality tests,” to determine whether the multiple cases are potentially connected.
Superintendent David Ljungberg and Principal Michael Rubin alerted families and district staff on Monday of the “sombering news,” after Uxbridge High School’s graduation over the weekend.
“We are writing to inform you about a concern we are investigating at Uxbridge High School,” Ljungberg and Rubin stated in the letter. “Several female teachers have been diagnosed with breast cancer or precancerous conditions over the past few years.”
“It is, of course, possible that these multiple cases are not connected to one another,” the leaders added, “but out of abundance of caution, we are looking into any environmental factors at the school that may be a factor in their diagnoses.”
The 123,000-square-foot school, with an enrollment of roughly 600, was constructed in 2012 at a cost of $45 million, including a $22-million state reimbursement.
Uxbridge school leaders say they notified the state Department of Health and local health board as soon as they became aware of the cases, seeking “counsel about how best to proceed.”
“Massachusetts DPH officials have indicated that there is no evidence of immediate danger in the building and no reason to limit access to or use of the facility at this time,” they wrote in their letter. “In fact, the public health officials have commended our decision to approach them with these concerns, our readiness to partner with them in support of the evaluation process.”
Health officials are assessing the school’s interior and exterior to “ensure there are no issues with the infrastructure that would present risks (including electrical, plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and other systems)” and the indoor and outdoor air quality on campus.
The superintendent and principal said that state officials have ruled out water supply as a “risk factor” after “thorough testing.”
“The team has reached out to the women who have been diagnosed, requesting data to evaluate whether there may be a connection among their cases,” Ljungberg and Rubin wrote. “We are grateful for their cooperation.”
They added that the state has said discovering an environmental “smoking gun” is “rare” in workplace investigations.
“However, even if a direct causal link is not established,” the leaders wrote, “the administration is utilizing this process to rigorously test the building and guarantee that it meets all safety standards moving forward.”
Local News
The legislation would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol one hour later than their normal closing time, up to 3 a.m., between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026.
Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a measure that would allow cities and towns to temporarily extend bar and restaurant hours during the summer, as the state prepares to host FIFA World Cup matches and celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The legislation (H.5465) filed by state Rep. Carole Fiola, would allow licensed establishments to sell alcohol one hour later than their normal closing time, up to 3 a.m., between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2026. The bill would also allow communities to establish designated public consumption districts where alcohol could be consumed in approved public spaces.
In a press release announcing the bill, Fiola said the summer’s threefold events lineup — the World Cup, Tall Ships, and July 4th — is an economically significant moment that the state should take advantage of.
“We should capitalize on these events that will generate economic benefits for small businesses and the state as a whole. It’s a local opt-in idea worth exploring that’s being done in other states,” Fiola said.
The proposal has received support from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and most recently Gov. Maura Healey, who submitted written testimony Monday to the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies urging lawmakers to advance the measure.
“Massachusetts is planning for a once-in-a-generation summer,” Healey wrote, according to the Boston Globe. “In 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, welcome tall ships from around the world to Boston Harbor for Sail Boston, and host seven FIFA World Cup matches in Foxborough, along with watch parties across the Commonwealth.”
The governor argued that the added flexibility could help local economies benefit from an influx of visitors.
“That flexibility can help communities capture more visitor spending, support jobs, keep downtowns active, and strengthen Massachusetts’ image as a dynamic destination ready to host the world and a place our residents, including our young professionals, are proud to call home,” Healey wrote.
She also urged lawmakers to move the legislation forward, saying it will “help Massachusetts meet the full economic and cultural opportunities for the summer ahead.”
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Rhode Island bill proposes 24-hour bar hours during World Cup
In Rhode Island, a similar bill to allow bars and restaurants to remain open until 4 a.m. during the World Cup was signed into law on Friday.
Fiola’s bill remains before the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. Any final version would require approval from both the House and Senate before reaching Healey’s desk.
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