Massachusetts immigrant advocates renew push for police-ICE cooperation limits

By Alison Kuznitz

Fearful of the Trump administration’s deportation actions, hundreds of immigrants and advocates urged Beacon Hill lawmakers Wednesday to strengthen state-level protections, including passing a long-debated law that would restrict cooperation between local and federal law enforcement officials.

Supporters with the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition sought to rally momentum for the so-called Safe Communities Act (S 1681 / H 2580), legislation that has lingered around Beacon Hill for years looking to end so-called 287(g) agreements that give state and local law enforcement the authority to carry out federal immigration officers’ jobs.

The bill was sent to study last session, but has previously cleared the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. Top House and Senate Democrats have for years opted against bringing the legislation forward for a vote. During President Donald Trump’s first term, the Senate in 2018 adopted the bill as a policy rider to the budget, though it did not survive conference committee negotiations, sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge said.

“I think because under the Biden administration, there was a sense of complacency and the immigrants were protected,” Eldridge, who’s sponsored the bill since 2017, told the News Service about last session’s study order. “Obviously, that has completely been upended.”

The Marlborough Democrat added, “I mean, this a new level of assault on immigrants compared to even when Trump was last president.”

To build more legislative support for the policy this session, Eldridge said he’s focused on securing endorsements from police chiefs, law enforcement groups, district attorneys and sheriffs.