Massachusetts judge orders sheriff to release ICE detainee health records

A Massachusetts judge has ordered the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office to release hundreds of anonymized health records belonging to immigrant detainees. The ruling by Judge James Budreau follows a legal dispute between the Sheriff’s Office and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Massachusetts.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit after the Sheriff’s Office denied public records requests regarding detainees held at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, the state's only immigrant detention center. The records in question stem from a 2024 contract between the department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

During proceedings, the Sheriff’s Office argued that federal immigration law pre-empted state public records laws. However, Judge Budreau rejected this argument, stating that the state maintains the right to oversee the health and safety of individuals held in its facilities through its police powers. A spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office confirmed the agency will comply with the court order.