Video & Transcript : 'Italian immigrants' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Apr 1st, 2025
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- USA Los Angeles, Tom Homan, LGBTQ Plus Law Association, Unitarian Universalist Church, Center for Immigration
- is a dedicated effort to try to erase and harm our most vulnerable people: transgender people, immigrants
- represent Los Angeles, Tom Homan, LGBTQ Law Association, Unitarian Universalist Church, Center for Immigrant
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Christopher Landau, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary, Michael Rigas, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, and Matthew Whitaker, of Iowa, to be United States Permanent Representati Mar 4th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- He had to tackle challenges from the illegal immigration crisis and drugs flowing into our country to
- is one of the key forces in the world. challenges of our time and prioritize enforcement of our immigration
- taught the importance of public service as a way to give back to this great country to which they immigrated
Committee:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Mar 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- professionals have not navigated before with their students and families, where they're being asked immigration
- I grew up in Fresno in a low-income family with an immigrant father who worked in the fields.
- mass deportations and threats to SNAP and urge investment in CFAP to provide food assistance for immigrant
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I'm wearing a hat as a small business owner, immigrant background, who has learned and I've taken
- Minnesota Ethnic Pro Network supports ethnic-owned businesses that are led by majorities from immigrant
- We have huge unemployment issues with immigrant women and women of color.
- </c> majorities from immigrant women. majorities from immigrant women.
- </c> with immigrant women and women of color. with immigrant women and women of color.
Committee:
Senate Human Services
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Higher Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a proud early college graduate, a biotechnology student, and the daughter of immigrants.
- In fact, it's a relic from the 1920s, where they were trying to exclude Jewish and other immigrant students
- As a daughter of Dominican immigrants raised in a low-income community by a single mother working paycheck
- mostly Protestant-run Ivy League schools here in the Northeast as a nativist response to increased immigration
- mostly Protestant-run Ivy League schools here in the Northeast as a nativist response to increased immigration
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its first hearing and heard testimony on a wide range of bills, including hunger-free campuses, FAFSA completion, early college/college-in-high-school programs, banning legacy preferences, AP credit consistency, and tuition equity for the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Committee leaders opened by outlining the hearing process and noting the three-minute testimony limit. Legislators and advocates generally framed the bills as equity and access measures aimed at improving college affordability, student success, and workforce development.
Representative Vargas testified for H. 1466 and H. 1467, arguing that hunger-free campus should be codified because many public college and community college students face food insecurity, and that FAFSA completion should be improved through individualized outreach and an opt-out or completion requirement. Senator Lovely, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and other advocates supported the hunger-free campus bill, citing data that 44% of public university and community college students experienced food insecurity in 2023 and that food insecurity harms graduation rates. Femi Stoltz and Shanti Lopez Toro backed the FAFSA bill, saying many students miss out on Pell grants and need direct support; they pointed to state examples such as Louisiana and to recent state action requiring FAFSA awareness. Committee members asked about the federal FAFSA rollout, regional equity in food access, and the need for long-term funding and data collection.
A large panel supported H. 1455 on college and high school/early college, including former Chair Roy, the Massachusetts Alliance for Early College, a student graduate, MBAE, and Tripp Jones. They described early college as a proven model that helps low-income and first-generation students, improves degree attainment, and supports workforce needs; witnesses said the goal is to scale from about 9,000 students and 55 partnerships toward 22,000 to 25,000 students by 2030, with possible future growth beyond that. Members raised questions about funding, public-private partnerships, parental involvement, faculty development, and whether the bill should include data review and more standardized policies across institutions. Representative Garcia also testified for H. 1432 on AP credit, saying students should receive consistent credit for AP scores of 3, 4, or 5. Senator Edwards and James Murphy testified for the legacy preference ban, arguing it is unfair and rooted in exclusionary history; they said some states have already banned legacy preferences in public and private institutions. Finally, UMass Dean Michael Fox, alumnus Dan Mayer, and student Jake Rasmussen supported S. 920 to include Stockbridge associate degree programs in MassEducate, saying tuition equity would help enrollment and support Massachusetts agriculture and green-industry jobs.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Education
Transcript Highlights:
- provide wraparound support such as healthy meals, physical and mental health services, housing and immigration
- Cities with higher populations of Black, Brown, and immigrant students have been those targeted with
- He was detained by ICE and sent to an immigration detention center in Texas.
- Another child was sent to an immigration detention center in California.
- As you heard today, I see here today as a proud product of the Haverhill Public Schools, an immigrant
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Education
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees.
Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists.
Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- While the surge in immigration enforcement leaves behind significant negative impacts to our city's economy
- Federal immigration enforcement contributes to national security, and I have a long history of working
- We do not do local immigration enforcement.
- We do not do local immigration enforcement.
- We do not do local immigration enforcement.
Committee:
Senate Taxes
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 04/09/26
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesotans of African Heritage, CIMA, the state's advisory body for African American and African immigrant
- displacement and contributes to housing instability that disproportionately affects communities of color, immigrants
- </c><00:58:17.600><c> colors,</c> affects communities of colors, affects communities of colors, immigrants
- </c><00:58:20.720><c> Research</c><00:58:21.120><c> shows</c> immigrants, and refugees.
- Research shows immigrants, and refugees.
Committee:
Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/31/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- million in general funds toward local border support with vague language that could be used to fund immigration
- And the bill has references to illegal immigration, put that in quotes, capital-related equipment.
- million in general funds toward local border support with vague language that could be used to fund immigration
- And the bill has references to illegal immigration, put that in quotes, capital related equipment.
- It's un- References to illegal immigration, put that in quotes, capital-related equipment—it's unclear
Bills:
HB2014 , HB2111 , HB2156 , HB2165 , HB2202 , HB2305 , HB2321 , HB2399 , HB2403 , HB2416 , HB2418 , HB2446 , HB2601 , HB2615 , HB2620 , HB2812 , HB2939 , HB2940 , HB2955 , HB2957 , HB2960 , HB2992 , HB4026 , HB4049
Keywords:
air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- community groups and young lawyers to train them up, particularly in areas where civil and criminal and immigration
- and her work have stepped up with the recent, again, intersection between criminal, family, and immigration
- law, needing attorneys to take on pro bono cases for special juvenile immigration status and families
- that are impacted by immigration law and family law. ...and families that are impacted by immigration
Committee:
House Courts of Justice
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Since then, I've also worked with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and when that was reorganized
- Since then, I've also worked with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and when that was reorganized
- 00:42:47.400><c> worked</c><00:42:47.680><c> with</c><00:42:47.960><c> the</c><00:42:48.839><c> immigration
- </c> also worked with the immigration also worked with the immigration Naturalization<00:42:50.200><c
Committee:
Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs
Summary:
The committees met on February 19, 2025, to hear advice-and-consent nominations, beginning with GM 645/GM 650 for Mike Lambert as Director of the Department of Law Enforcement. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state officials, community leaders, nonprofit representatives, and others, who praised Lambert’s collaboration with communities, communication skills, and practical approach to public safety. Several speakers highlighted his work on homelessness, game rooms, community policing, and his ability to work across public health and law enforcement lines. Lambert told the committee he has 22 years of law enforcement experience, including patrol, community policing, training, narcotics/vice, and work on fentanyl, internet crimes against children, and ghost guns, and said his priorities would include building community trust, improving training and discipline, and addressing fireworks and firearms enforcement. Senators asked about fireworks, federal collaboration, ports and airport screening, recruitment, pay parity, and whether the department should expand into a more formal state police force; Lambert said he would need time to learn the new port/shipping environment and would support a state police class and expanded enforcement capacity. The committee did not take a final vote in the portion of the transcript provided.
The committee then heard GM 567 for Jean Dello Jr. as chairperson of the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Supporters, including Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice and Hawaii Paroling Authority staff, described him as honest, ethical, fair, and experienced in balancing public safety with rehabilitation and re-entry. Dello said he came out of retirement in 2021 to serve on the board, and that his background in federal probation and state corrections led him to favor evidence-based practices over simple compliance monitoring. He emphasized the need to weigh public safety with giving inmates a real opportunity to transition successfully back into the community. No final action or vote was announced in the excerpt provided.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children (10-22-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- have to be either a citizen or national, an alien lawfully admitted, or permanent resident as an immigrant
- have to be either a citizen or national, an alien lawfully admitted, or permanent resident as an immigrant
- have to be either a citizen or national, an alien lawfully admitted, or permanent resident as an immigrant
- have to be either a citizen or national, an alien lawfully admitted, or permanent resident as an immigrant
- Uh and there's some some immigrant.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its September 24 meeting after a motion and second. It then heard a presentation from New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Gragensky on that state’s early childhood system and planned universal child care rollout. She described how New Mexico consolidated multiple prenatal-to-age-five programs into a cabinet-level department, expanded pre-K to a longer day, and uses a cost model to set reimbursement rates intended to cover true provider costs, including wages, benefits, occupancy, food, and reserves. She also said the state created an Early Childhood Trust Fund and secured a constitutional amendment to dedicate 0.60% of the land grant permanent fund to early care and education, with the department’s budget growing from about $400 million in 2021 to just under $1 billion this year.
Gragensky said families can begin applying for universal child care on November 1, with participation voluntary for both families and providers. She reported that New Mexico is aiming to expand capacity by adding 1,000 registered home providers, 120 group homes, and about 55 more centers, supported in part by a $13 million low-interest loan fund and a request for an additional $20 million. She said the state has seen growth in early childhood professionals, including a 64% increase over the last three to four years, and pointed to reported outcomes such as a 21% increase in literacy and a 75% kindergarten readiness rate, while noting that some measures are new and baseline comparisons are still being developed.
Members asked about the funding sources, provider profitability, workforce development, and measurable outcomes. Gragensky said the program is designed to support provider sustainability through rates tied to true cost and includes allowances for sick leave, vacation, benefits, and reserves. She also said maternal labor force participation is 10% higher than the national rate and attributed that in part to child care access. The committee then moved to a separate presentation by Department for Community Based Services Commissioner Lisa Dennis and Division of Family Support Director Roger McCann on anticipated cuts to TANF and SNAP, beginning with an overview of TANF as a federal block grant with a fixed annual Kentucky allocation of about $180.7 million.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/19/25
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- my name again is Abdi Khad Bashir, and I serve as the founder and ED at Cairo Center for African Immigrants
- </c><00:04:44.320><c> and</c><00:04:44.560><c> Refugees</c> African Immigrants and Refugees African Immigrants
- 00:05:29.199><c> for</c><00:05:29.520><c> refugees,</c> Equity and social justice for refugees, immigrants
- </c><00:24:43.039><c> community</c><00:24:43.360><c> in</c><00:24:43.600><c> greater</c> the immigrant
- community in greater the immigrant community in greater Minnesota,<00:24:44.559><c> particularly</c>
Committee:
Senate Jobs and Economic Development
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- On page 13 of the calendar is House Bill Number 13 by Representative Yarbrough relating to immigration
- </c> relating to immigration. repres. relating to immigration. repres.
- </c><02:59:58.880><c> law,</c><02:59:59.200><c> whereas</c><02:59:59.520><c> what</c> enforce immigration
- law, whereas what enforce immigration law, whereas what this<02:59:59.920><c> bill</c><03:00:00.160>
- want to, voluntarily, into an MOU with the federal government to help enforce existing federal immigration
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 5:15 P.M.
Judiciary, Division B
Transcript Highlights:
- magnitude, I understand, but in this committee we have multiple times this week addressed illegal immigration
- And I certainly voted in favor of the immigration bills in here.
- And while it creates an oxymoron, I think it was, uh, with immigration it was pointed out there, and
- uh</c><00:12:21.200><c> with</c> oxymoron I think it was uh with oxymoron I think it was uh with immigration
- it was pointed out there and immigration it was pointed out there and with<00:12:24.079><c> uh</c><00
Committee:
Joint Judiciary, Division B
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Mar 23rd, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Licensing & Administrative Procedures Mar 25th, 2025
Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Transcript Highlights:
- My grandfather actually immigrated from Germany to Central Texas in 1845, right before Texas became a
Committee:
House Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Keywords:
licensing, reciprocity, regulation, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, interstate agreements, massage therapy, civil penalties, human trafficking, public safety, law enforcement, student permit, occupational regulation, education, occupations code, criminal history, HB 2286, interior designers, certificate of registration, renewal, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- language classes for over 300 adults waiting to learn English, as well as support services for immigrants
- basic needs, which includes shelters for individuals and families and food pantries; refugee and immigrant
Summary:
The committee opened by explaining new attendance and public-testimony procedures, including that testimony would be recorded, livestreamed, and generally made public, with possible redactions for sensitive material. The chairs also noted that no committee rules were being formally adopted yet and that no votes would be taken during the hearing. Senator Collins briefly emphasized the committee’s oversight role on land takings and Article 97 issues, including concerns about proposed regulatory changes and the legislature’s constitutional role.
The first major bill discussed was H. 3324, concerning the former Christos site on Crescent Street in Brockton and a proposed transfer of state-owned land from DCAM. Representative Michelle DuBois, Representative Rita Mendes, Mayor Sullivan, the Metro South Chamber’s Chris Cooney, Catholic Charities’ Larry Mayne, and Brockton planning director Rob May all supported the bill, describing the parcel as long vacant and arguing it should be reused for a mixed-use project with Catholic Charities, including affordable/workforce housing, an early education center, food pantry, workforce development, and language classes. Several speakers said the project would help retain Catholic Charities in Brockton and bring tax revenue and community services. DuBois outlined expected amendments, including moving one parcel into a municipal sale partnership and changing a “shall” to “may” regarding a right-turn lane. Some members raised questions about whether a deed transfer to a nonprofit was preferable to a long-term lease and about affordability definitions, but the bill was generally supported.
Representative Connolly then testified on two Cambridge bills: H. 3308, relating to the Riverside Boat Club and a reconfigured DCR parcel boundary to support a lease with no loss of public space, and H. 3309, which would facilitate access to justice by preserving consideration of a vacant former probate court site for future court use. Senator DiDomenico supported the Riverside Boat Club measure and the broader goal of restoring court access in Cambridge. Members discussed accessibility, possible future court configurations, and the site’s prior use as an emergency shelter.
The committee then heard testimony on S. 2217/H. 2108 concerning Columbia Point and access around the UMass/Bayside area. Harbor Point residents, including Orlando Perrella, Michael Corcoran, Richard Fulham, and Miles Byrne, described severe traffic congestion, emergency-access concerns, and frustration with the UMass Building Authority’s handling of the site and prior community commitments. Senator Collins said the committee should consider seeking an SJC opinion, and possibly an Attorney General opinion, on Article 97 and public-access rights. After the in-person testimony concluded, the committee attempted to reach remaining virtual witnesses on S. 2217 but did not receive testimony. With no further witnesses, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Higher Education Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- university, the promise of higher education becomes real for thousands of students: first-generation, immigrant
- university the promise of higher education becomes real for thousands of students first generation immigrant
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills touching student access, campus safety, and institutional support. Early testimony focused on H. 4544, which would create a state Hispanic-serving institution designation to replace a lost federal designation and potentially allow future funding. Representative Kushmerek and Fitchburg State President Donna Hodge described Fitchburg’s growing Latino student population, the university’s local commitments such as the Fitchburg Promise, and argued the bill would help the institution better serve its community. Committee members asked about how the tuition-free local program is financed, and the bill was described as having no immediate funding request but allowing for future appropriations.
The committee also heard support for H. 1421, a proposed John F. Kennedy Service Scholarship Program for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and Commonwealth Corps alumni, with Representative Arena DeRosa arguing that student debt discourages service and that the program would help make citizen service more accessible to lower- and moderate-income students. Members raised questions about cost, take-up, and whether the program should be capped. H. 1449, dealing with transcript withholding, drew support from Representative LeBoeuf and USPyre’s Demi Stoltz, who said withholding transcripts over small balances or non-academic fees traps students and harms workforce participation; members discussed how schools could still collect debts without blocking transcripts. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to improve study-abroad safety reporting, with Carrie Pascarello urging a centralized data system after multiple student deaths and serious incidents abroad, and members asking about how other states handle similar transparency measures.
Another major topic was H. 4113 on higher education sexual misconduct. Laura G. and Ashley Freeman supported a proposal aimed at preventing “passing the harasser” by requiring disclosure of substantiated findings or departures during open investigations in hiring processes. They said the bill would improve transparency and campus safety while preserving due process, and noted Washington State has a similar law. Members discussed whether the bill should be expanded to K-12 settings and asked about the Washington model’s effectiveness. The committee also heard from Mike Canavan of AFT Massachusetts in support of a bill to create a grant program for librarians to earn a master’s in library science, noting the credential is required for the profession but is not offered by any public institution in Massachusetts. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- you can imagine that this data-sharing practice could also put other vulnerable populations like immigrants
- enforcement agency across the country, whether they're investigating armed robbery, an abortion, or an immigrant
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Transportation
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 31 bills covering driver privacy and data, distinctive license plates, public awareness signage, railroad safety, superload permitting, TNC/delivery data reporting, and MBTA safety measures. Chairs Jim Arciero and Brendan Crighton outlined the hearing process, and the committee heard testimony from state officials, advocates, family members of fallen officers and firefighters, transportation industry representatives, civil liberties groups, and others. No votes were taken during the hearing itself, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.
Several speakers supported bills creating a Blue Star Family license plate to honor families of fallen law enforcement officers, and a separate motorcycle plate for fallen firefighters. Colonel Jeffrey Noble and others from the Healey-Driscoll Administration and law enforcement groups said the plates would complement existing memorial practices and provide a lasting public tribute. Family members of officers killed in the line of duty gave emotional testimony in support, and Representative Steve Ultrino and Paul Jakes backed the firefighter memorial motorcycle plate as revenue-neutral, with proceeds supporting the fallen firefighter memorial.
The committee also heard testimony on transportation policy and safety bills. Industry witnesses urged modernization of Massachusetts superload permitting rules, saying current requirements are slower and more expensive than neighboring states and delay public projects. Advocates supported a human trafficking awareness bill requiring hotline signage in transit facilities, a driver privacy bill limiting automatic license plate reader data retention and sharing, and a bill requiring two-person crews on freight trains and other railroad safety measures such as hotbox detectors and transportation for railroad employees. Senator John Keenan also testified for expanded naloxone availability in MBTA stations and said the MBTA had not fully complied with prior legislative directives.