Press Release: 04/30/25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2025
CONTACT
413.315.3328
info@n2nma.org
Ruth, 70-Year-Old Community Elder, Leader, and Grandmother is Detained.
Community Rallies to Keep Her Home.
The family of the Worcester resident has called on federal and state leadership to demand her immediate release.
Boston, MA [April 30, 2025] — Ruth, a 70-year-old Massachusetts woman, was detained yesterday afternoon by federal agents at Boston Logan International Airport on her return from vacation in Zimbabwe. The cause for her detention is not yet clear.
“Ruth is a beloved member of our community and we are calling for her immediate release,” said Jonathan Goldman, Executive Director of the Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice. “Ruth has a deep commitment to helping those around her and now is a moment when we need our community to come together to help Ruth.”
Organizations across the Commonwealth are mobilizing to demand Ruth’s immediate release and return to her family, who have not heard from her since she was detained and are deeply concerned for her health and well-being. Ruth has lived in the United States for many years, and is a lawful permanent resident. She has worked for a local Worcester based nonprofit since 2024. She previously worked for a USAID-funded nongovernmental organization in Africa, which focused on public health.
“On the eve of International Workers’ Day, we need to stand with immigrant women workers of color like Ruth who do the invisible labor of caring for our families and communities every day and make every other work possible,” added Jéssica Oliveira, Co-Director of Matahari Women Workers’ Center, a co-anchor of the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA hotline. “Ruth’s detention is a part of an alarming pattern we are seeing nationally of harsh family separation practices, increased surveillance of immigrant communities and leaders, and threats to sanctuary cities.”
The LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts along with its partners Worcester Interfaith, Student Clinic for Immigrant Justice, Massachusetts Communities Action Network (MCAN), and more will be hosting a stand out on Wednesday, April 30 at 12 p.m. outside the Moakley Courthouse in Boston during Ruth’s court hearing regarding the ongoing harms caused by the abductions of immigrant community members across the state and country.
What: Emergency press conference in support of detained Worcester resident, and all Massachusetts immigrant communities
When: Wednesday, April 30 at 12 p.m., outside the Moakley Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Way, Boston, MA 02210
Why: Immigrant justice organizations in Worcester and across Massachusetts are standing up against the Trump administration in solidarity with our community member who was detained at Logan airport.
Leaders will take the opportunity to urge Senators Warren and Markey, Representative McGovern, Governor Healey, AG Campbell, and Senator Kennedy to join their call for her immediate release and return home.
“Neighbor to Neighbor is appalled by what’s happening to our community members. A 70-year-old with lawful permanent resident status is being detained by Customs and Border Protection with no clear cause for why she is being detained.” said Dálida Rocha, Executive Director at Neighbor to Neighbor. “This is unacceptable. At her age, this kind of treatment is not only cruel, it’s dangerous. We need clarity around this situation and a guarantee that she is being given fair and due processing. We’re also calling on CBP to stop targeting our communities under the guise of protocol. It has become extremely clear that our communities of color are being threatened and this is no longer about public safety and protection.
“Situations like these are becoming more frequent, so we must come together to keep one another safe,” said Jaya Savita, director of APIs CAN, one of the organizations coordinating the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of MA. “It’s in moments like these when supporting grassroots and member-led immigrant justice organizations is more important than ever. We must move together, across communities and regions, to mobilize and protect all of our immigrant neighbors, loved ones, and communities from threats to our autonomy and our democracy.”
“We must remember that we are on stolen land and that we shouldn’t treat Ms. Ruth as less than, we should not criminalize and cage her for seeking to breathe free, this is inhumane and not consistent with what our nation promises” said Roberto Diaz, Executive Director of Worcester Interfaith.
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Matahari Women Workers’ Center is a Boston-based community organization working to end gender-based violence and exploitation. Founded in 2002, Matahari is a leading force in advancing the rights of women workers, immigrant families, and survivors. Matahari was instrumental in passing the 2014 Massachusetts Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, which extends basic labor protections to nannies, au pairs, adult caregivers, and house cleaners. Learn more about our work on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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About LUCE Immigrant Justice Network of Massachusetts:
The LUCE Immigrant Justice Network is a coalition of immigrant-led, grassroots organizations building people power across Massachusetts. Grounded in justice and equity, LUCE organizes through grassroots action, information sharing, and mutual aid to keep all communities safe. LUCE holds a collective vision for People’s immigration justice, refusing to leave anyone behind because of their marginalized identity, and fighting for the collective liberation of all. To learn more about the LUCE Immigrant Justice Network, visit www.lucemass.org or email luce_immigrantnetworkma@proton.me