Immigrant & Civil Rights

Lydia Edwards has been a steadfast champion for the civil and immigrant rights of Massachusetts residents. Drawing from her legal work at Greater Boston Legal Services and her background working with immigrants from all over the world, she’s fought to ensure dignity, inclusion, and justice for all. In the Senate, Lydia has advanced legislation to protect immigrant health access, criminal record sealing, civil liberties, and labor rights—empowering communities and safeguarding freedoms in a climate of nationally escalating threats.

How Lydia Has Delivered

Universal Dental Care Access Regardless of Immigration Status (S.732)

Lydia sponsored Senate Bill 732, aiming to provide universal dental coverage for all Massachusetts residents—regardless of immigration status—eliminating a major barrier to preventive healthcare and promoting public health equity.

Closing Gaps in Protections for Domestic Workers

With deep ties to the domestic worker movement, Senator Edwards endorsed a groundbreaking report evaluating enforcement of Massachusetts’s Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

Support for Criminal Record Sealing & the “Clean Slate” movement

Lydia has backed efforts to seal eviction and criminal records—helping individuals clear past barriers and access employment, housing, and civic participation. Massachusetts’s eviction record-sealing law, effective May 2025, aligns with her commitment to second chances.

Ending Legacy Admissions

Lydia introduced An Act Banning Legacy Preferences in Higher Education to level the playing field for all students applying to colleges and universities in Massachusetts. Her bill would prohibit both public and private degree-granting institutions from considering an applicant’s familial ties to alumni during the admissions process. By removing legacy preferences, Lydia is fighting for a more equitable and merit-based admissions system that puts student potential ahead of privilege.

Removing Racist Housing Covenants

Lydia introduced legislation to proactively identify and eliminate racially restrictive covenants from property records across Massachusetts. The bill empowers registry districts to remove unlawful and discriminatory language from land titles—without requiring court approval—when such language clearly violates state anti-discrimination law. It also establishes a process for courts to address more complex cases and mandates annual reporting to the Office of Fair Housing. By confronting the legacy of housing discrimination, Lydia’s bill ensures that our property records reflect the values of equity and inclusion.