Senator Lewis and Mass. Senate Pass PROTECT Act to Defend Residents from Federal Immigration Overreach

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass sweeping legislation to protect residents from the Trump administration’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement.

The PROTECT Act holds federal immigration agents legally accountable for civil rights violations, bans local and state police from participating in civil federal immigration enforcement, and prohibits immigration arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities.

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The bill also blocks unauthorized deployment of other states’ National Guards into Massachusetts and allows parents facing detention or deportation to pre-arrange guardianship for their children.

“I am proud to be an immigrant to this country. Immigrants from all over the world have long made Massachusetts and the United States stronger by contributing in so many ways to our economy, culture, arts, and science,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “In addition to inflicting terrible pain and suffering on families who do not deserve to be treated this way, the Trump administration’s immigration policies are damaging our economy and our nation’s future prospects for growth, innovation, and global leadership. Through the PROTECT Act, the Massachusetts Senate is standing up for our immigrant residents and neighbors, for our communities, for our businesses, and for our future.”

The Senate’s PROTECT Act delivers targeted protections for those most at risk: young children, crime victims, legal residents with complex immigration statuses, and public employees subjected to federal intimidation. It also makes clear that none of its provisions limit local law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute a crime.

Highlights of the state Senate’s PROTECT Act include:

• Preventing racial profiling and limiting civil immigration enforcement by prohibiting state and local law enforcement from stopping, questioning, or targeting individuals based solely on immigration or citizenship status, and by clarifying that state and local law enforcement may not participate in civil immigration enforcement activities.
• Strengthening trust in local law enforcement by prohibiting Massachusetts law enforcement from participating in new federal “287(g)” agreements that deputize local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties.
• Protecting sensitive community spaces by prohibiting warrantless civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations such as schools, childcare centers, hospitals, houses of worship, and state courthouses, helping ensure residents can access essential services without fear.
• Supporting families facing potential immigration detention by allowing parents to establish pre-arranged guardianship plans so children can remain safely cared for if a parent is detained or deported.
• Protecting victims and witnesses of crime by strengthening protections for immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes, including trafficking victims, and expedites visa processes so they can safely assist law enforcement and prosecutors.
• Safeguarding public employees acting in good faith by expanding protections for state and municipal employees through indemnification when they are acting within the scope of their official duties, shielding them from inappropriate federal intimidation or legal pressure.

The PROTECT Act also includes legislation originally filed by Senator Lewis that requires employers to notify their employees when they receive federal notices of I-9 paperwork inspections which federal agents have weaponized to data mine personal information leading to warrantless raids and arrests.

The legislation is a product of extensive input from senators, immigrant rights groups, members of the public, and law enforcement officials. It builds on proposals offered by Governor Healey, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and the House of Representatives, as the legislature and executive branch recognize the gravity and urgency of these issues and work together to address them in a timely and coordinated way.

After passing with a bipartisan vote of 37-3 in the state Senate, the PROTECT Act will now be reconciled with a similar version that was previously passed by the House of Representatives before being sent to Governor Healey for her signature.