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NewsNoticias Tampa Bay (Univision)August 5, 2026Hillsborough

Massachusetts Governor signs PROTECT Act to limit ICE cooperation and expand immigrant protections

Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act, which prohibits ICE from making civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations like schools and hospitals and bans new state or local agreements with federal immigration authorities under the 287(g) program. The law also codifies a 2017 state court ruling that prevents local authorities from detaining individuals based solely on federal administrative immigration warrants.

immigrationcivil rightslaw enforcementpublic safety
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Why It Matters

The law changes how state and local agencies interact with federal immigration enforcement, impacting the legal rights of immigrants and the operational capacity of ICE within Massachusetts.

Key Facts

  • The PROTECT Act prohibits ICE from conducting civil immigration arrests in schools, hospitals, childcare centers, and courthouses.
  • The law bans the signing of new 287(g) agreements between state/local agencies and federal immigration authorities.
  • Existing cooperation between the Massachusetts Department of Correction and ICE remains in effect.
  • The law codifies a 2017 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling prohibiting local detention based solely on federal administrative immigration warrants.
  • Individuals are granted the right to sue government officials, including ICE agents, for alleged civil rights violations.
  • The law provides expanded protections for parents in the event of detention or deportation.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that the law hinders federal efforts to locate and detain individuals accused of crimes.

Who's Mentioned

organizationDepartment of Homeland Security“Federal agency that criticized the new law.”personMaura Healey“Governor of Massachusetts who signed the bill.”organizationICE“Federal agency impacted by the new restrictions.”organizationMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court“Issued a 2017 ruling now codified into state law.”other287(g)“Federal program for state/local cooperation with immigration enforcement.”