On Wednesday, Gov. Maura Healey stood with immigrants, advocates, community leaders, law enforcement, teachers, nurses, doctors, clergy and elected officials at La Colaborativa in Chelsea to sign the PROTECT Act, landmark legislation that provides the strongest protections in the nation against the dangerous and illegal tactics of President Donald Trump and ICE. The bill keeps ICE out of courthouses, schools, child care centers, hospitals and health care facilities, while also providing stronger protections for parents in case they are detained or deported, banning new 287(g) agreements and allowing civil rights claims to be made against government officials, including ICE agents.
“Today, Massachusetts is standing up for what’s right and taking action to keep our people and our communities safe,” said Governor Healey. “The PROTECT Act is the strongest law in the country to protect people from ICE, because no one should be afraid to send their child to school, seek medical care or fear reporting a crime or appearing in court. It makes us all less safe. So we are getting ICE out of our courthouses, schools and hospitals. This bill is a testament to the hard work and advocacy of so many people across our state. We’re going to keep working together to make Massachusetts and this country the place we all want it to be.”
“This bill is about standing up for our immigrant communities, standing up for public safety, education and health care, and standing up for people’s rights and freedoms,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We're grateful to our legislative partners and the many advocates who worked alongside us to strengthen public safety, protect families and reinforce trust between our communities and law enforcement.”
The PROTECT Act includes several key provisions proposed by Governor Healey earlier this year, including prohibiting warrantless immigrant arrests at courthouses, schools, child care centers, and health care facilities, including hospitals, community health centers and nursing homes. It allows parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they are detained or deported. It also codifies the Governor’s Executive Order by limiting civil immigration enforcement in nonpublic areas of state buildings, requiring multilingual guidance on immigration enforcement procedures and individual rights, and prohibiting any new 287(g) agreements with state agencies.
“Strong public safety requires strong partnerships with the communities we serve,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “The PROTECT Act helps preserve the trust that law enforcement, prosecutors and community organizations rely on to protect victims, investigate crimes and keep neighborhoods safe. When people feel safe, our Commonwealth is stronger.”
“As a superintendent and teacher, I've seen how deeply a child's sense of safety and belonging shapes their ability to learn,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “The PROTECT Act helps ensure that early education programs and K-12 schools remain welcoming places where every child can feel safe, build confidence, and thrive. That sense of belonging is essential to educational opportunity and to the strength of our communities.”
“In my work as a clinician, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to maintain a safe, healing environment in our hospitals,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MD, MBA. “Keeping ICE out of hospitals, as well as our courthouses and schools means we also keep fear out of these places. I am grateful to Governor Healey for her continued leadership protecting our immigrant communities from the cruel acts of the Trump Administration.”
The bill also defines state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement while expanding legal protections and due process for immigrants. It creates a new state law civil rights claim for government officials, including ICE agents, who violate someone’s federal constitutional rights. It also establishes new oversight, reporting, and notification requirements for correctional facilities, employers, and state agencies and strengthens protections for crime victims seeking immigration relief.
“With the Governor's signature today, Massachusetts residents will have the strongest protections from President Trump's weaponization of federal immigration authorities in the nation,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “The abuses and infringements on constitutional rights we have seen in this country are reprehensible and un-American. This law is the culmination of our efforts to do everything in our state's power to protect hardworking residents who have done nothing wrong and who contribute to the vibrancy of this state. I applaud Senator Friedman and Senator Payano for their work to reach this strong agreement, and I applaud the Governor's signature on this bill.”
“Since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, ICE and Border Patrol agents have continued to harass and disappear innocent Americans with total impunity—a reckless approach that has led to the deaths of American citizens and legal residents, and to children being separated from their families. Those actions have immigrants in Massachusetts living in fear as they go to work or bring their children to school, and they jeopardize the trust that local law enforcement has worked hard to build,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “That’s why this legislation is so important, as it takes steps to ensure that all residents in Massachusetts are treated equally under state law, and to protect our communities through practical, thoughtful measures. I want to thank Governor Healey for signing these protections into law, as well as Chairman Cahill, Chairman Vargas, and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus for working tirelessly to incorporate feedback from immigrant communities and law enforcement alike. Finally, I’m grateful to all my colleagues in the House, and to our partners in the Senate, for voting in favor of these critical reforms.”
“The PROTECT Act strengthens protections for our residents in the face of the aggressive tactics employed by ICE – tactics that do not enhance public safety and instead spread fear among families and our communities,” said Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. “I am grateful to Governor Healey and the Legislature for enacting these critical protections into law. Immigrants are an essential part of our communities, workplaces, and economy, and we will continue to use every tool available to defend their rights.”
This legislation is a crucial piece of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s overall strategy to protect Massachusetts communities and stand up to the harm caused by President Trump and ICE. When Governor Healey first filed her legislation, she also signed an Executive Order prohibiting the state from entering into any new 287(g) agreements unless there is a public safety need, prohibiting ICE from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities, and prohibiting the use of state property for immigration enforcement staging. She also issued statewide guidance for schools, child care providers, higher education campuses, health care facilities and places of worship regarding interactions with ICE agents.
Gov. Healey also launched an online portal with Attorney General Campbell that allows Massachusetts residents to report alleged misconduct by ICE, opposed ICE flights at Hanscom Airport, called for an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and other immigrants, and opposed new ICE Detention Centers in New England. The Healey-Driscoll Administration has also connected thousands of immigrants with legal services and provided robust multilingual resources for communities and employers.
Statement of Support
District Attorney Kevin Hayden:
“It is fitting that Massachusetts, the state that launched the American liberty movement, is now moving forward with an act that protects the liberty of its residents, particularly those in our immigrant communities, while balancing public safety and victim rights. Our state sent a resounding message about liberty 250 years ago and we’re doing it again today.”