It is a pivotal moment on Beacon Hill. After months of increasingly aggressive federal immigration enforcement, Massachusetts policymakers last week launched a flurry of new immigration bills and policy proposals. These proposals aim to strengthen due process, improve oversight, and protect residents from federal overreach.
Two proposals are especially notable. Not only are they significant in their own right, but they also add important momentum and scope to the many immigration bills already pending before the Massachusetts State Legislature.
This moment did not happen by accident. It reflects the sustained pressure and persistent advocacy of community-based organizations, faith leaders, legal advocates, and everyday residents who have demanded urgent action for years.
The PROTECT Act (H.D. 5608) — A Broad Legislative Package
Last week, the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus (BLLC) unveiled the PROTECT Act (HD. 5608). Introduced by BLLC Chair Rep. Andy Vargas of Haverhill and Rep. Judith Garcia of Chelsea, it represents a year-long effort to build consensus around a set of immigration proposals derived from bills introduced earlier this session.
At its core, the PROTECT Act is designed to strengthen due process and reduce harmful entanglement between Massachusetts systems and federal civil immigration enforcement. It focuses on several key areas.
First, it would create important protections for immigrants detained in federal immigration custody at the Plymouth House of Correction. It would ensure people receive clear information about their rights in their primary language and access to legal services. Importantly, it would require the facility to maintain a secure locator system, so families and attorneys can confirm the whereabouts of detainees, and require notice of any transfers within 6 hours.
Second, it would largely prohibit any new 287(g) agreements, with narrow exceptions for enforcing criminal laws, subject to strict oversight and high procedural barriers. These agreements deputize local law enforcement to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. This is especially important given concerns that such agreements undermine trust between communities and police.
Third, it would prohibit civil immigration arrests in and around, and to and from, courthouses,major loci of immigration arrests. The goal is to ensure victims, witnesses, and defendants can safely access the justice system. No one should have to fear being targeted by ICE for simply participating in court proceedings.
Finally, it includes reforms to make it easier and faster for survivors of serious harm to access immigration protections and benefits. This includes survivors of workplace exploitation and trafficking. The bill would help individuals secure the documentation needed to apply for protections through U and T visas.
Governor Healey’s Executive Order and Proposed Legislation
In parallel with legislative efforts, Governor Maura Healey introduced a package of executive and legislative actions. These are intended to protect Massachusetts residents from abuses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They focus especially on the places people depend on most.
The Governor’s proposed legislation would limit immigration enforcement activity in sensitive locations. This includes schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses. These actions reflect a simple principle: no one should have to choose between safety and everyday life. That includes getting medical care, sending a child to school, practicing one’s faith, or seeking justice.
The executive order tightens restrictions on new 287(g) agreements with ICE. It bars state agencies from entering into new agreements unless they receive written approval and can demonstrate a “specific, articulable public safety risk or need.”It also addresses whether state resources, personnel, or facilities can be used to support civil immigration enforcement. To learn more about which facilities are covered, please refer to Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s guidance here. The Governor’s proposal reinforces the idea that state government should not be complicit in practices that destabilize communities. It also aims to protect trust between residents and public institutions.
Why This Matters and What Comes Next
The stakes are high. Across Massachusetts, immigrants are sheltering in place, relying on community support to provide for their basic needs or to accompany their children to and from school. Immigrant businesses are shuttered. Families are separated, children are traumatized, workplaces lose employees overnight, and entire communities withdraw from public life.
These proposals are an important step toward long-overdue protections for immigrant communities in Massachusetts. The question now is whether the Legislature will match this moment with urgency and follow-through.
Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to engage as these bills move through the legislative process!