Know Your Rights

We are experiencing a time of great uncertainty for immigrants in our community.  Whether you’re a U.S. citizen, a green card holder, a student on a visa or undocumented, you have legal rights.

The City of Cambridge welcomes, serves, and supports all members of our community, regardless of immigration status. In 2020, the Cambridge City Council passed the Welcoming Community Ordinance, formally enshrining these values into our municipal code. We have upheld this commitment, as exemplified when a Safety Net Shelter was opened by the state in East Cambridge and we saw neighbors, residents, organizations, and City staff come together to support families in need.

The Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC) is a City department dedicated to welcoming, informing, connecting, and supporting Cambridge’s immigrant community. CIRC provides information on legal resources, support services, and guidance on reporting discrimination based on protected classes, such as national origin and race.

CIRC also organizes Know-Your-Rights trainings for residents, students, visitors, and community organizations serving our immigrant community.

Below are some helpful resources:

• View Know Your Rights Video Presentation
• Know Your Rights Slide Presentation
• Red Cards in Multiple Languages
• Know Your Rights Information Sheet
• Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition Resources

For Service Providers:

• Best Practices for Service Providers KYR Slide Presentation
• Best Practices for Service Providers KYR Video Presentation
• Link to guidance for faith-based organizations

Bystander Intervention Training Slides:

• English
• Spanish | Español
• Urdu