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Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signs PROTECT Act limiting ICE arrests
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act (H.5620) into law, calling it the "strongest law in the country" to protect residents from ICE. The legislation bans U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting warrantless civil arrests at state facilities, including courthouses, public schools, day‑care centers, hospitals, health centers and nursing homes. It also creates a three‑year statewide commission on immigration, reforms U and T visa certification timelines (cutting the standard period from 90 to 30 days with a 10‑day emergency option), and permits undocumented parents to pre‑arrange legal guardianship for their children in case of detention or deportal.
The law passed both chambers of the Massachusetts legislature after months of drafting and was championed by Senator Lydia Edwards and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. The Department of Homeland Security condemned the measure, saying it endangers public safety and releases violent criminals back into communities.
Entities
Department of Homeland Security · Department of Homeland Security (DHS) · Lydia Edwards · Maura Healey · PROTECT Act · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law. commonwealthbeacon.org · www.themirror.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The PROTECT Act establishes a statewide commission on immigration to operate for three years. beaconhilltimes.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Governor Healey described the PROTECT Act as the strongest law in the country protecting people from ICE. commonwealthbeacon.org · www.themirror.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The PROTECT Act bans ICE from conducting warrantless civil arrests at courthouses, schools, day‑care centers, hospitals, health centers and nursing homes in Massachusetts. commonwealthbeacon.org · www.themirror.com · beaconhilltimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Senator Lydia Edwards introduced three key provisions of the PROTECT Act. beaconhilltimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Department of Homeland Security condemned the PROTECT Act, accusing Massachusetts lawmakers of endangering public safety. www.themirror.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The PROTECT Act allows undocumented parents to pre‑arrange legal guardianship for their children if detained or deported. www.themirror.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The PROTECT Act reforms U and T visa certification, reducing the timeline from 90 days to 30 days, with a 10‑day emergency process. beaconhilltimes.com