The PROTECT Act
Massachusetts PROTECT Act
The PROTECT Act was signed into law on August 5, 2026. It strengthens protections for Massachusetts residents by limiting state and local participation in federal civil immigration enforcement and creating new safeguards in schools, child care facilities, health care settings, courthouses, and other state and local institutions.
Resources
Webinar: The PROTECT Act: Schools, Health Care & Protections for Victims of Crime
Tuesday, October 6, 12–1pm – Zoom
Join MIRA, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, and the Health & Law Immigrant Solidarity Network for a conversation on the PROTECT Act’s new protections for immigrant communities in schools, childcare centers, and health care settings, as well as protections for victims of crime and trafficking. Learn what has changed, what the law does—and doesn’t do—and what these new protections mean in practice for immigrant communities.
NEW!
PROTECT Act Implementation and Accountability Toolkit
Assess how the PROTECT Act is being implemented in your community.
How to Use This Toolkit:
1. Identify the institution. Examples include schools, police precincts, daycare centers, and others.
2. Use the checklist to determine whether required policies, training, procedures, and other protections are in place.
3. When possible, ask for documentation and keep a record of any implementation concerns or gaps you identify.
4. Use the information in this toolkit to determine where to go to share any identified gaps or concerns about implementation.
5. Share what you are seeing with the MIRA Coalition so we can identify broader implementation trends across Massachusetts.
Guidance from the office of Governor Healey :
The PROTECT Act and Its Impact on Police Operations
Guidance from the office of the Attorney General :
Recorded Webinars & Trainings
The PROTECT Act: Schools, Healthcare, & Protection for Victims of Crimes
MIRA, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, and the Health & Law Immigrant Solidarity Network engage in a conversation on the PROTECT Act’s new protections for immigrant communities in schools, childcare centers, and health care settings, as well as protections for victims of crime and trafficking. Learn what has changed, what the law does—and doesn’t do—and what these new protections mean in practice for immigrant communities.
The PROTECT Act: ICE, Law Enforcement & the Courts
MIRA, the ACLU of MA, and Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) on the PROTECT Act’s new protections involving ICE, local law enforcement, and Massachusetts courthouses. Learn what has changed, what the law does—and doesn’t—do, and what these protections mean in practice for immigrant communities. Future trainings will be scheduled to provide information on other sections of the PROTECT Act.
The PROTECT Act: What it means for Massachusetts
Join the MIRA Coalition policy team for a public briefing on what the PROTECT Act means for Massachusetts immigrant communities.
Gratitude
MIRA has been in this fight since the bill's forerunner, the Safe Communities Act . . .There is so much gratitude to go around - to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, to State House leadership in both chambers, to our bill sponsors and legislative allies, and to the many organizations in the PMC Coalition, who brought this bill to the finish line. This is a testament to the hard work of collaborative legislative advocacy. We look forward to celebrating our victory - and to continuing the work ahead!