Op-Ed: Families Belong Together

This past week has been a hard one for me. Like many of you, I have been reeling from the latest news of the actions carried out by our federal government in the name of border security. I can’t read stories about babies being ripped from their mothers’ arms without feeling or the sharp pangs of nausea, helplessness, and anger. The idea of someone separating me from my children enrages me, and I simply cannot comprehend how a person of conscience could justify these injustices.

With each passing day, our government fails to live up to its democratic values by mistreating undocumented families at our border and in our communities. These abuses fly in the face of the American promise -- a promise of liberty and justice for all, including our immigrant neighbors. I am especially sickened by the stories of families being torn apart right here in Massachusetts. Our elected officials have a moral obligation to stand up for all our residents -- regardless of their immigration status.

The most important thing our State House can do to protect immigrants is pass the Safe Communities Act. This bill protects the civil rights, safety and well-being of all residents. It bans any registry based on religion or country of origin, guarantees immigrant detainees basic due process rights, focuses our police departments on crime rather than deportation, and keeps mixed-status Massachusetts families together. The Senate has already approved an amendment that implements key measures from the Safe Communities Act, but both House Speaker DeLeo and Governor Baker have voiced opposition to the bill. I encourage each of you to contact your officials and ask them to support the bill -- it only takes a moment, and it has a much bigger impact than screaming through your Facebook newsfeed.

I love that our district is a place where newcomers and old-timers unite as neighbors and friends. I am proud to be part of a community where so many languages are spoken and where diversity is celebrated every day. As a Massachusetts State Senator, I promise to defend immigrant rights and fight for the safety, dignity, and freedom of everyone in our Commonwealth.