Every day, horrific acts of violence committed by ICE agents occur across the country, including in Massachusetts. These actions not only harm individuals but also make our communities less safe for everyone.

Massachusetts residents have consistently turned out in large numbers for protests and standouts, calling on elected leaders to take decisive action and stand up against the cruelty and lawlessness of the Trump administration.

Recently, there has been a surge of ICE activity in Maine, which raises concerns that Massachusetts may be targeted next. It is imperative that we prepare for this possibility now.

Massachusetts cannot stop all of ICE's operations, but we must refuse to be complicit. Despite our reputation as a liberal state, Massachusetts has often lagged behind others in protecting immigrant communities.

Several states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington, have enacted critical legislation to prevent state and local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE.

Governor Healey and legislators on Beacon Hill are beginning to recognize the public's demand for action. However, it is essential that any legislation passed truly addresses the challenges we face.

Beacon Hill should clarify that state and local law enforcement must not assist ICE or act as ICE agents.

Massachusetts law enforcement should never help ICE make civil immigration arrests—where no crime has been committed—or question members of the public about their immigration status.

ICE is pressuring local police departments to join its 287(g) program, which turns street-level officers into ICE agents. Massachusetts must prevent this misuse of public safety resources within our borders.

Massachusetts is currently the only state with a Democratic governor and legislature to have a statewide 287(g) agreement with ICE. Governor Healey can end this collaboration with a single signature.

Find out if your local legislators support bills like the Safe Communities Act, the Dignity Not Deportations Bill, or the Black and Latino Caucus’s PROTECT Act. Urge them to rally their peers for strong legislation.

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Immigrant workers, survivors of domestic and sexual assault, and tenants must feel safe reporting crimes, abuse, or exploitation without fearing deportation.

Restricting collaboration between ICE and police is essential to restoring trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement, ultimately strengthening public safety for all.

The 287(g) agreements with ICE empower local police and sheriffs to stop, identify, and transfer immigrants to ICE for deportation, effectively turning them into an arm of ICE.

These voluntary agreements have become the linchpin of Trump’s mass deportation agenda, expanding from 135 in January to over 1,000 nationwide by October 2025.

Sincerely,

Anne M Rousseau

Jamaica Plain