A city-run leadership training program for immigrants in Boston has drawn criticism online after details emerged that participation is limited to immigrants, including people who are not U.S. citizens, and that some participants can receive a $575 scholarship funded by taxpayers.
The program, called Immigrants Lead Boston, is run by Mayor Michelle Wu’s Office for Immigrant Advancement. It is described as being aimed at “emerging leaders” who want to advocate for Boston’s immigrant communities. Over the course of 10 weeks, participants meet with city officials and receive training meant to help them engage with local government and organize within their communities.
Critics online have focused on two aspects of the program: that it is funded with public money, and that eligibility is restricted to immigrants rather than open to all residents, including U.S.-born Bostonians.
“That is not charity. That is a political pipeline built to shut citizens out of their own city,” one user wrote on X.
Other social media users raised similar objections.
“Paying illegal immigrants to learn political organizing to protest against the country they’re in,” one person wrote.
“For starters it sounds like discrimination,” another user posted.
“Is this legal,” one user asked.
One post also criticized Wu directly, calling her “a communist who probably wants a American version of China.”
Another commenter argued that any assistance to people in the country illegally, apart from help leaving the country, “simply rewards their unlawful behavior, encourages other unlawful behavior, and more illegals to follow their lead.”
The program is not the only recent city initiative involving immigrant communities to draw attention; Boston has also moved to give LGBTQ+ migrants vouchers for yoga, meditation and what has been described as “creative healing.”
Boston’s program follows a broader pattern seen in other Democratic-led states, particularly around access to public benefits and higher education for immigrants. New York, Connecticut and Vermont have offered in-state tuition or other financial benefits to immigrants in the country illegally, while Oregon and Washington have provided access to benefits such as state grants or student loans. California has allowed qualifying students in the country illegally to apply for state financial aid.
Those tuition policies have also faced legal challenges. The Trump administration’s Justice Department has sued New York and other Democratic-led states over tuition benefits for immigrants in the country illegally, and Nebraska recently ended in-state tuition benefits for such immigrants under a deal with the department.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Wu’s office for comment on the Immigrants Lead Boston program; there is no indication in available reporting that the office has responded.
