Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has unveiled legislation aimed at shielding her state's residents from the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in various public spaces, including schools, churches, hospitals, and courthouses.
Healey's move is part of a broader effort to reassert control over ICE's activities in Massachusetts, which she claims have been sowing fear and chaos among residents. The governor contends that federal agents are using intimidation tactics to instill fear, causing many people to avoid leaving their homes or seeking medical care for fear of being detained by ICE.
The new legislation would ban warrantless civil arrests by ICE officers inside courthouses, a practice that has deterred witnesses and victims from appearing in court. The bill also prohibits immigration agents from entering schools, places of worship, and hospitals without judicial warrants.
Additionally, the law would establish a statutory privilege to prevent the civil arrest of people in houses of worship while they are attending services. Furthermore, it would make it unlawful for National Guard troops from other states to be deployed to Massachusetts without the governor's explicit permission.
Healey has also signed an executive order aimed at curbing the activities of ICE in state facilities. The directive prohibits federal officers from conducting civil arrests in nonpublic areas of state buildings unless they have a judicial warrant or court order.
The move comes as part of a larger trend by Democratic governors across the country to push back against the Trump administration's policies, which he claims have targeted immigrants and marginalized communities.
Healey's move is part of a broader effort to reassert control over ICE's activities in Massachusetts, which she claims have been sowing fear and chaos among residents. The governor contends that federal agents are using intimidation tactics to instill fear, causing many people to avoid leaving their homes or seeking medical care for fear of being detained by ICE.
The new legislation would ban warrantless civil arrests by ICE officers inside courthouses, a practice that has deterred witnesses and victims from appearing in court. The bill also prohibits immigration agents from entering schools, places of worship, and hospitals without judicial warrants.
Additionally, the law would establish a statutory privilege to prevent the civil arrest of people in houses of worship while they are attending services. Furthermore, it would make it unlawful for National Guard troops from other states to be deployed to Massachusetts without the governor's explicit permission.
Healey has also signed an executive order aimed at curbing the activities of ICE in state facilities. The directive prohibits federal officers from conducting civil arrests in nonpublic areas of state buildings unless they have a judicial warrant or court order.
The move comes as part of a larger trend by Democratic governors across the country to push back against the Trump administration's policies, which he claims have targeted immigrants and marginalized communities.
. It's crazy that they're actually avoiding going to the hospital because they don't want to get caught by federal agents! I mean, it's like living under a constant cloud of uncertainty and anxiety 
. Maura Healey is totally on the right track with this legislation, though - it's about time some governors took a stand against these intimidation tactics 
. The fact that they're banning warrantless arrests in schools and places of worship? Genius move 
! And I love how she's making it unlawful for out-of-state National Guard troops to show up without permission... no more surprises, right? 
It's about time Massachusetts took a stand against the intimidation tactics employed by ICE agents in public spaces 
. The fact that federal agents are deterring people from seeking medical care or attending court due to fear of detention is utterly unacceptable 
.
. While some might argue that it's a power grab, I think it's more about reasserting control and protecting the rights of marginalized communities 
. By establishing these statutory privileges, Healey is creating a safer space for people to live, work, and worship without fear of persecution 
.
also what about people who are undocumented, aren't they still in danger from ice agents even if they're not in public spaces? 
and i'm curious, how's this gonna play out with other states and the feds? is there like a bigger movement going on here? 
.
. like, who wants to go to school or church or hospital without worrying about being stopped by federal agents? 
. its about time we start prioritizing people's rights over federal agendas 
. the new legislation is a good start, but im hoping it sets a precedent for other states to follow 
that's just not right. I can imagine how scary it must be for folks to be walking around school or hospital and know those guys could pop up at any moment. 
Massachusetts is taking a big step here by pushing back against all this and saying no more, we deserve better! 
I've got a friend whose cousin is from Mexico and they're just trying to live their life here. The last thing they need is some scary ICE dude showing up at their kid's school or hospital visit 
. We should all be able to feel safe in our own neighborhoods, especially when we're just trying to get medical attention or take care of our families. I mean, what's next? ICE showing up at my doorstep uninvited? 
No thanks!
- nobody wants 'em! Massachusetts is saying enough's enough, time for some state autonomy 
. Schools, churches, hospitals shouldn't be places of fear, just healing & growth 
. Governors are taking back control, that's what leaders do 
i mean it makes total sense that they're sowing fear in the community, who wouldn't be scared of being detained by some faceless govt agent 
it's crazy how democratic govns are pushing back against trump's policies 
and now massachusetts is leading the way 
And schools should be safe spaces for kids, not places where they're scared of getting detained by immigration agents. 
It's time for some real changes in this country, you feel? 
. Like, how's that gonna end well? Just a recipe for disaster.
! Healey's getting straight into it with her new legislation 
. The idea of shielding residents from ICE officers in public spaces is super reasonable 
.
. We need more leaders like Healey who are willing to take on the tough issues and fight for their people 
.
. But seriously, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is trying to chill ICE out of all public spaces. I guess you could say it's a 'no-fly zone' for federal agents 
. Anyway, Maura Healey's got this 
, gotta protect our residents from those ICE agents, right? Schools should be safe spaces for kids, not places where they're scared of being detained by strangers in uniforms 
. It's time for our state leaders to look out for us, not just the interests of the feds 
.
, but i gotta wonder if we're just creating a whole new set of problems here... like how's law enforcement gonna deal with real emergencies when ppl are too scared to go anywhere?