With a federal administration committed to the mass detention and deportation of immigrants, Massachusetts must act to protect our communities. Lexington Alarm stands with the Protecting Massachusetts Communities (PMC) coalition in calling for urgent state-level action.
WHAT MASSACHUSETTS MUST DO
1. Ban New 287(g) Agreements
Massachusetts should follow seven other states and prohibit any new 287(g) agreements that deputize local law enforcement to act as immigration agents. These agreements are costly for local governments, threaten public safety by diminishing trust in officers, and damage communities by separating families.
2. Prevent Partnerships Between Police and ICE
Local law enforcement should focus on keeping communities safe—not participating in immigration raids. When police get involved in federal immigration enforcement, it takes time and resources away from real crime prevention and decreases trust among immigrants who need to report crimes or seek help.
3. Prohibit Asking About Immigration Status
A statewide law should clearly prohibit police from asking about immigration status. This sends a clear message that all residents can trust their local law enforcement, regardless of their background.
79% of Boston voters support prohibiting local police from working with ICE on civil immigration enforcement.
IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE ACT (ILDA)
The Immigrant Legal Defense Act would create a permanent, funded statewide program to provide no-cost immigration legal defense to Massachusetts residents at imminent risk of deportation—especially those held in federal detention.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Detained immigrants with a lawyer are 10 times more likely to win their case than those without representation. Yet many face deportation proceedings alone, without an attorney.
Why We Still Need ILDA
While the FY26 budget includes $5 million for immigrant legal aid, this is just a start. For comparison, New York allocated $64.2 million for a similar program. ILDA would:
- Establish a permanent program (current funding ends June 2026)
- Include private immigration law firms as providers, expanding attorney availability
- Follow Massachusetts residents detained or transferred out of state
- Create an advisory committee for oversight and accountability
- Prioritize low-income immigrants (at or below 200% of poverty guidelines)
About Protecting Massachusetts Communities
PMC is a coalition working to advance legislation protecting immigrants. It is co-chaired by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition and the Brazilian Workers Center, and includes the ACLU of Massachusetts, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA), Massachusetts Teachers Association, and SEIU unions.
DOES YOUR LEGISLATOR SUPPORT THE SAFE COMMUNITIES ACT?
Check the Progressive Mass scorecard to see which legislators have signed on to H.2580, the Safe Communities Act.
VIEW THE SCORECARD →Take action: Contact your state legislators and urge them to support the Safe Communities Act and the Immigrant Legal Defense Act.
