Sen. Lewis, Reps. Donato/Lipper-Garabedian, & Legislature Defend Residents from Federal Immigration Overreach

BOSTON—State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representatives Paul Donato and Kate Lipper-Garabedian joined their colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature to pass sweeping legislation to protect residents from overreach by federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts and to ensure that local and state law enforcement are not involved in federal immigration enforcement. This legislation establishes some of the strongest protections in the nation for residents who have immigrated to their communities.

The PROTECT Act strengthens due process protections and limits civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, hospitals, and other sensitive locations. It also expands protections for victims of crime, and increases transparency, accountability, and clarity for correctional facilities and law enforcement relative to civil immigration enforcement.

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"Our country is led by a president who demonizes immigrants and encourages cruelty against them, but the Massachusetts Legislature is committed to standing up for our immigrant communities," said Senator Jason Lewis. "I am extremely 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. Not only do the Trump administration's misguided and inhumane immigration policies inflict terrible pain and suffering on families who do not deserve to be treated this way, they also damage our economy and our nation's future prospects for growth, innovation, and global leadership."

"I am very proud of the work of my colleagues to pass these new guidelines," said House Second Assistant Majority Leader Paul Donato. "This legislation sets new standards and helps to strengthen trust between state agencies and our communities."

"Today, we are witnessing on the federal level shameless violations of constitutional rights and the dehumanization of our family members, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers with an intent to instigate division and hatred," said House Chair Kate Lipper-Garabedian. "We are a country of immigrants, founded on the rule of law and the right to due process. With the PROTECT Act, we reject the cruelty of the Trump administration and affirm our values in the Commonwealth. Families and immigrants should be safe in our public schools, childcare facilities, healthcare locations, and courthouses, and our local and state resources should not be used to advance a reckless campaign of chaos targeting residents who are contributing to our economy and our communities while posing no threat to public safety."

Highlights of the PROTECT Act include:

• Protecting residents from discrimination by barring local and state police from asking about a person's immigration status or stopping them because of it—absent a connection to a specific criminal matter.
• Shielding sensitive community spaces by prohibiting civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant at schools, childcare centers, medical facilities, and courthouses.
• Strengthening trust in local law enforcement by prohibiting law enforcement from using state or local resources for the purpose of federal civil immigration enforcement and by banning Massachusetts law enforcement from signing new federal "287(g)" agreements that deputize local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties, except in very narrow circumstances.
• Supporting families facing potential immigration detention by allowing parents to designate a guardian for their children in advance, 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 expediting visa processes so they can safely assist law enforcement and prosecutors.
• Protecting workers and families by requiring employers to notify their employees of I-9 federal paperwork inspections within 48 hours of receiving notice—legislation that was originally filed by Senator Lewis.
• Defending residents from civil rights violations by establishing a pathway for a civil cause of action against federal officers who violate a resident's constitutional rights, putting them under the same accountability standards as state and local police.
• Upholding the rule of law by requiring county and state correctional facilities to notify people in custody, in writing, of their rights, including access to counsel and the right to decline interviews; keep a confidential phone line open for calls with an attorney; publish a number the public can use to confirm whether and where someone is detained; and log every access request and disclosure for at least a year.

The PROTECT ACT is a product of extensive input from legislators, immigrant rights groups, members of the public, and law enforcement officials. It builds on proposals offered by Governor Healey and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus as the legislature and executive branch recognize the gravity and urgency of these issues and work together to address them effectively.

After passing in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law on August 5, 2026.