BOSTON — Massachusetts has a program that pays for lawyers for immigrants facing deportation. Senate Democrats want to put more money into it.

The program, created in the state's fiscal year 2026 budget, funds free legal representation for immigrants in deportation proceedings — who, unlike criminal defendants, have no right to a court-appointed attorney.

The additional $1 million would come from general fund revenues as part of a supplemental spending bill that also allocates $1.34 billion in millionaires tax funds to transportation and education.

Spilka did not mince words about why she wants to expand it. "We need to ensure that the funding is there, because unfortunately, the Trump administration is continuing to increase the number of people that they are — I hate to use the term kidnapping at times — but suddenly appearing and grabbing people," the Ashland Democrat said.

Since launching, the initiative has funded 24 full-time immigration attorneys placed at organizations across the state. As of late March, they had taken on more than 400 cases, with nearly 700 more people already qualifying for services. Thousands of additional callers had reached the hotline set up to field requests.

The Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Coalition, which won the contract to run the program, is pushing lawmakers to set aside $15 million in the next state budget — roughly triple the current funding — to expand the program's reach.