Governor Says Massachusetts is ‘Standing Up for What’s Right’ As Republicans Argue It Undermines Cooperation with Federal Authorities
By Katie Castellani
It was hard to tell whether Gov. Maura Healey hosted a party or bill signing ceremony when she signed legislation Wednesday that the governor and lawmakers say provides the strongest immigrant protections in the country.
The new law, known as the PROTECT Act, arose as a top priority for lawmakers and the governor amid intensified immigration law enforcement efforts led by President Donald Trump. The law expands protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses as well as public schools, childcare centers and healthcare facilities.
“I think we can agree that we need immigration reform in this country. We can agree we need controls at the border. We can also agree that ICE is so wrong in what it’s doing, and ICE needs to be stopped here in Massachusetts and around this country,” Healey said during a bill signing ceremony in Chelsea at La Colaborativa, a nonprofit focused on supporting immigrants.
Among those issuing statement in support was Sen. Pavel M. Payano, representing Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen, a member of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
“The passage of the PROTECT Act reaffirms Massachusetts’ commitment to fairness, due process and human dignity. No family should have to choose between taking a child to school, seeking medical care or appearing in court because they are afraid. As someone who as a child immigrated from the Dominican Republic, I understand the importance of living in a state that honors the promise that hard work and contributing to your community should open doors, not close them,” he said.
Caucus chair and Haverhill Rep. Andy X. Vargas added, “The PROTECT Act is the culmination of over 18 months of speaking to impacted families, advocates and law enforcement, including chiefs of police and DAs. The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus wrote a bill that had bipartisan support and was constitutionally sound. That bill has found allies in every room across the State House. I would like to thank Speaker Mariano, Sen. President Spilka and Governor Healey for their steadfast leadership in getting this done,” he said, adding, “Immigrants are the pillar of our country and Massachusetts will not allow our resources to drive them out. This law has earned praise from constituents, advocates, police chiefs and district attorneys alike.”
While supporters celebrated the bill’s signing on Wednesday, opponents raised concerns.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve issued a statement saying that by signing the bill, Healey “prioritizes politics over public safety,” as the law will limit cooperation between state and federal law enforcement officers.
Massachusetts Coalition for Immigration Reform said the law “is an ill-advised measure that assigns a higher priority to ideology than to public safety” and “by any measure illegal immigration is economically and socially harmful.”
Healey emphasized the law as a public safety measure. The governor also said the conversation surrounding immigrant protections is not finished.
“There will be ugliness coming out of today. There will be ugly rhetoric. There will be meanness. There will be cruelty. There will be racist tirades. You see it online and elsewhere,” she said. “Okay, listen. We’ll be strong. We’ll be tough. We know what’s right. We know how to protect ourselves. We know how to protect public safety, and we know what we need to do because we know how terrible, terrible ICE has been in Massachusetts and around this country, and this is about stopping it.”
The sweeping legislation codifies the Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court 2017 Lunn v. Commonwealth decision that found there is “no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer.” It prohibits new agreements allowing state and local officials to perform certain federal immigration enforcement actions while preserving the Department of Correction’s existing agreement with ICE. The law allows parents to arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detained, and creates a civil cause of action against federal law enforcement officers who violate a resident’s constitutional rights.
Under an emergency preamble lawmakers attached to the bill, the law went into effect immediately.
WHAV staff contributed to this report.