Winchester Delegation and Mass. Legislature Defend Residents from Federal Immigration Overreach

BOSTON—State Senators Jason Lewis and Pat Jehlen and State Representatives Michael S. Day and Michelle Ciccolo joined their colleagues in passing sweeping legislation to protect residents from overreach by federal immigration authorities in Massachusetts.

An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment, known as the PROTECT Act, establishes some of the strongest protections in the nation for immigrants by strengthening due process protections and limiting civil immigration enforcement in courthouses, public school grounds, and hospitals. It also expands protections for victims of crime and creates clearer rules for correctional facilities and law enforcement agencies interacting with federal immigration authorities on federal 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."

"Here in Massachusetts, we protect the fundamental rights of every person who comes here," said Representative Michael S. Day. "The PROTECT Act upholds the rule of law while ensuring every individual receives the same dignity, respect and constitutional protections that make us who we are. Eight out of ten immigrants currently being held by ICE in Massachusetts had no criminal convictions at the time of their detention. Yet the federal government continues to recklessly cause fear, loss and family separation in this community in an effort to score political points. We in Massachusetts are once again leading the way in showing the nation what it means to stand up for our communities and our Constitution."

"The federal attacks on our immigrant neighbors and the fear they have instilled in our communities is unacceptable and reprehensible," said Senator Patricia Jehlen. "I am proud to support the PROTECT Act and see it passed through the legislature to support and protect all our friends and neighbors. The immigrant members of our communities contribute to Massachusetts' identity and livelihood every day, and we won't turn our backs on them now."

"As the federal government continues to escalate immigration enforcement, our work as state legislators to pass legislation that protects our residents while also standing up to judicial scrutiny becomes even more important," said Representative Michelle Ciccolo. "I was immensely proud to join my colleagues in voting for this bill, both in committee and on the House floor. My sincere thanks to the Massachusetts Black and Latino Caucus for its tireless work on this issue."

Highlights of the PROTECT Act include:

• Shielding sensitive community spaces: Based on part of legislation filed by Representative Day, the law prohibits federal immigration authorities from making civil immigration arrests without a judicial warrant at schools, childcare centers, medical facilities, and courthouses. The governor may also restrict enforcement activity in non-public areas of state buildings, state agencies, and private organizations.
• Strengthening trust in local law enforcement: The law prohibits state and local law enforcement from using state or local resources to carry out federal civil immigration enforcement. It also generally prevents Massachusetts law enforcement from signing new federal "287(g)" agreements which allow local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties. The law permits limited 287(g) agreements in narrow circumstances as long as they are primarily focused on criminal law arrangements.
• Supporting families facing potential immigration detention: Under the law, parents may designate a guardian for their children in advance, so children will have a care plan in place if a parent is detained or deported.
• Protecting victims and witnesses of crime: The law strengthens protections for immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes, including trafficking victims, and expedites visa processes so the individuals can safely assist law enforcement and prosecutors.
• Protecting workers and families: Based on legislation filed by Senator Lewis, the law requires employers to notify their employees of I-9 federal paperwork inspections within 48 hours of receiving notice.
• Protecting residents from discrimination: The law prohibits local and state police from asking about a person's immigration status or stopping them because of it, unless there is a connection to a specific criminal matter.
• Defending residents from civil rights violations: The law creates a legal pathway for residents to seek relief if federal officers violate a resident's constitutional rights, putting them under the same accountability standards as state and local police.
• Upholding the rule of law: Based in part on legislation filed by Representative Day, the law requires correctional facilities to notify people in custody, in writing, of their rights, including access to counsel and the right to decline interviews. Facilities must also maintain 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.

Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law on August 5, 2026, following its passage in both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives.