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BOSTON — Hundreds of advocates from across the state gathered at the State House Tuesday to testify in support of a series of bills that would better protect immigrants and strengthen immigration laws.
The advocates gathered under the banner of a new group, Protect Our Massachusetts, to testify at the Senate Judiciary Committee and Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security.
The group is spearheaded by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), Brazilian Worker Center, American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and several chapters of the Service Employees International Union.
“We stand here today because it is our shared responsibility not only for the sake of immigrant families’ humanity,” said Gilberto Calderin, MIRA director of advocacy, at a news conference before the hearings began. “But for the safety and survival of every one of us to ensure that the laws in Massachusetts protect all of us.”
The advocates pointed to the mass deportation campaign, launched shortly after President Donald Trump entered the White House on Jan. 20, as the motivation for the move.
“We are living in unprecedented times,” said Laura Rótolo, senior advocacy director for field initiatives at the Massachusetts ACLU. “The levels of violence and destruction in our community are unprecedented.”
“There is no one thing that one person can do that’s going to stop the mass deportation plan, but it must begin here,” she continued. “There is much that our state can do.”
Among the advocates speaking was Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, a Milford teen detained by ICE on his way to volleyball practice in May. His detention prompted a tour of the ICE Boston Field Office in Burlington by Massachusetts Congressmen Seth Moulton and Jake Auchincloss. His was among the many stories that brought to light the poor conditions of detainees held at the facility well beyond the 48 hours it was meant to.
“People shouldn’t be scared every day of being taken by ICE for no reason at all,” he said. “One thing that is true is that immigrants alone will not be able to fight against the government.”
Thousands of immigrants in Massachusetts have been detained since then and more than 60 of those have been from the New Bedford area according to data tracked by The Light.
Safe Communities Act
The main event was a hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, in the Gardner Auditorium where legislators, officials, and members of the general public spoke on the Safe Communities Act.
The legislation, whose co-sponsors include Rep. Antonio F.D. Cabral, a Democrat whose district includes the South End of New Bedford, would require a person’s consent for interviews by U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding immigration status. The granting of such an interview would be public record and it would prohibit law enforcement from initiating contact with DHS about the imminent release of a person from custody beyond the end of incarceration due to a criminal conviction. It would also prevent state and local agencies from entering into agreements where they may act as immigration officers.
That last part alludes to 287(g) agreements where ICE provides financial incentives and training to local law enforcement to carry out some immigration duties. Thousands of agencies across the country have entered into such agreements since Trump returned to office. The Massachusetts Department of Correction is the only agency in the state currently with such an agreement.
Rep. Priscila Sousa, a Framingham Democrat and one of the bill’s main sponsors, said in her testimony that ICE’s aggressive tactics are making immigrants less willing to speak with law enforcement.
“Recent ICE enforcement actions have raised serious alarm in our communities,” Sousa said. “These arbitrary detentions not only erode trust but create fear.”
Rep. Manny Cruz, a Salem Democrat and the bill’s other main house sponsor, said the bill would also help maintain local police budgets. But the main point was ensuring trust between communities and law enforcement, he said.
“It would ensure that regardless of their documentation status people can report crimes,” he said. “Civil immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government.”
The son of an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, he said his own experiences growing up in an abusive home point to the need for such legislation.
“As a survivor of domestic violence I can contextualize just how important this type of legislation is to survivors,” he said. “Our abusers used my mother’s immigration status to make her believe that if she ever called the police that she would be deported.”
“This bill protects every single person in the commonwealth regardless of their [immigration] status,” said Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan during her testimony in support of the bill before the committee. “Rule of law means that we are all treated the same.”
Senate Committee Chair John Cronin, a Worcester Democrat, engaged in some back and forth with Ryan over fears that police are cooperating with ICE.
“Do you have any evidence or are you aware of any local and state resources coordinating or collaborating with ICE?” he asked.
“I am not officially aware of that,” she said, adding she has heard community concerns about the possibility.
Also testifying in favor of the bill was Cambridge Police Superintendent Pauline Wells.
“Public safety depends on trust and trust disappears when residents fear deportation,” she said. “When community members trust law enforcement enough to come forward or call 911, we are all safer.”
Committee member Rep. David Linsky, a Natick Democrat, noted that he had heard stories of how ICE enforcement actions at district courts have led to people missing hearings due to fear. He cited that as a reason for support of the bill.
“Despite the best efforts of the police departments and the prosecutors in the various offices, cases are getting dismissed,” he said, “because witnesses, victims are simply afraid to go to court houses.”
“It leads to a negative impact on public safety,” he continued. “And ultimately a negative impact on our economy and quality of life. We need to do this bill.”
Some opposition
Only two members, Sen. Peter Durant, a Republican whose district includes parts of Worcester and Hampshire counties, used his time to speak in favor of the SHIELD Act, a bill that would prohibit the passage of any sanctuary ordinances limiting law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE.
“S1675 restores basic public safety coordination across the commonwealth,” he said.
Rep. Ken Sweezey, a Duxbury Republican, entered into a back and forth with Monique Nguyen, executive director of the Boston Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement in favor of the Safe Communities Act.
“It’s clear that the federal government wants to enforce these laws,” he said, adding that with the resistance being put up by some state and local officials, it would make sense that actions by federal agencies would intensify. “You understand it’s a natural response?”
“We want to make sure there is distinction between the two,” Nguyen said. “[The federal government is] expanding the definition of what is criminal and we don’t agree with that.”
Kevin G. Andrade can be contacted at kandrade@newbedfordlight.org
Enough is enough, before another dime is spent on illegals, it’s time to use our tax dollars to help and support our veterans, seniors, families, children, and hardworking citizens that are struggling to pay escalating rents, high costs of utilities, rising costs of healthcare, and put food on their tables. More than ever we need to get Maura Healey out of the Governor’s Office.
Hi! Comments like these along with really trashy signs (pun intended) that say “Dump Healey” are popping up more and more. I guess I’m just curious – why is it always someone else’s problem? Last year, it was Biden. This year, it’s Maura. Who’s next? And anyways, Trump’s whole beat last year was “YOU GONNA BE RICH UNDER ME” – still waiting! He is also currently helping to jack my health insurance from $434/monthly (wild) to $936/month. I don’t even use it.
We have GOT to stop scapegoating individuals because it’s convenient and easy. We need to actually read news and look at what is being said and done. And, most of all, we need to reconnect with just a shred of our humanity. When the richest people in this country pay barely 37% of their income on a bad day versus nearly 91% under Eisenhower, I really actually do not care at all that my hardworking neighbor and his family can have a home, afford to eat, and go to the doctor.
Oh, in case it was unclear, I support immediate passage of the Safe Communities Act. Cheers!
Thank you!
It always perplexes me too that when the GOP controls all three branches of the federal government, they are not proposing to overhaul our clearly ineffective and broken immigration system. But then I realize that make it a perpetual problem and one that can be pinned on the Democrat de jure is immensely beneficial to them when running and then once they’re in, they focus on cracking down (but reforming) and cutting breaks for their rich donors. Meanwhile, our immigrant neighbors live in fear and my groceries are more expensive every month.
Spent billions on illegals and you’re still crying. There is no one to blame for this mess but the far left radical liberals, they have ruined the Democrat Party and put illegals before veterans, seniors, families, children, and hardworking citizens. Joe Biden is the worst President in our nation’s history and Maura Healey is the worst Governor in our State’s History. We give thanks that one is gone and the other is on her way out the door. No more tax dollars for illegals.
Gosh! That’s a lot of unhinged vitriol and misplaced anger in one post. I am sorry you are so upset, friend! Hopefully tomorrow will cheer you up. The truth will still be here waiting for you – our immigrant neighbors have not and are not “ruining the country”; but the numbers do seem to hint that your loyal adherence to dogma and a cult leader likely did. Cheers!
Cute but it’s just more far left liberal nonsense, keep crying, and making excuses, we have heard them all before.
But now no one is buying it anymore, because every time you far left liberals get a chance to shine, our nation watches you crash and burn.
Just like in 2020 Sleepy Joe was touted as the Savior, the Great Unifier, and a Experienced Leader, and what we got was a Disaster, a Weak Leader with Failed Policies that did nothing to move our nation forward.
Like so many before you that drank the Far Left Liberal Kool-Aid, it has done you no favors, it’s time to grow up, and stop the nonsense.
Trump never made any promise of everyone is going to be rich.
Also, if you feel that a federal income tax rate of 37% isn’t enough for people with a great career with a salary, excellent benefits, annual bonus +, then you’re obviously one of the many liberal socialist Democrats who are living in the wrong part of the world, and you should relocate to a socialist nation.
Immigrants have been the backbone of our economy. They are humans and need to be treated that way. Caring for them does not exclude assisting other members of our society. Some of these immigrants are seniors, veterans, children and hardworking members of our state. Do we stop helping them for the sake of bolstering numbers for a son of an immigrant who forgets his origins?
There’s a big difference between immigrants, and illegal immigrants, specially when you know nothing about them, their background, criminal history, work history, and so much more.
Democrats are responsible for allowing millions of illegal immigrants into America, most who have nothing to offer beyond manual labor for low wages while their 3 or 4 children attend public schools at the expense of the tax payers, and don’t tell me they’re also tax payers, when you look at their low wages, just like Americans, a family of 4 or 5 with a household income of $60,000, they have taxes witheld from each paycheck, then receive 90% of state & federal taxes in a refund the following spring.
When MA Americans cry about every tax paid in MA from income, property, and every item purchased besides food and clothing, and their apartment rent increases, you should realize how much you pay, and how many others pay little to nothing, like the 48% of New Bedford residents who can’t, or won’t buy their own food, they prefer to receive a handout from the tax payers, and more from the food banks… They have no pride, no dignity, and zero self worth.
What’s clear is that 10 to 15 million illegal immigrants entered America, and they have no right to be here, and there are many Massachusettes residents who agree with me, and We’ll be calling in tips to ICE as often as possible until the last illegal immigrant is removed from America, our home, NOT THEIRS!!!!
This is so cringey. Yikes. Sending good vibes and best wishes for a happy holiday tomorrow!