Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Giving Tax Dollars Exclusively to Immigrants and Non-Citizens to Train in Political Activism

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration is offering taxpayer-funded scholarships for the Immigrants Lead Boston program, which trains immigrants and non-citizens to be political activists. The program, run by the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement, excludes U.S. citizens from participation. Critics argue this taxpayer-funded initiative is a political pipeline designed to exclude citizens from city affairs.

• Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration is criticized for a taxpayer-funded activist program called Immigrants Lead Boston.
• The program offers scholarships and training for immigrants and non-citizens to become political activists and community organizers.
• U.S. citizens are explicitly excluded from participating in the program.
• Critics argue the program uses taxpayer dollars to create a political pipeline that shuts out citizens.
• The program allows applicants regardless of immigration status, including green-card holders, DACA recipients, refugees, asylum-seekers, and undocumented residents.
• The program has been continued and expanded under Mayor Wu, having launched in fall 2020 under former Mayor Marty Walsh.