# Massachusetts immigration enforcement and state protections > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/massachusetts-immigration-enforcement-and-state-protections > Updated: 2026-09-23T04:30:00.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Following the signing of the PROTECT Act by Governor Maura Healey, the Massachusetts administration issued guidance for schools and childcare centers to manage interactions with immigration enforcement. The law expanded protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests to include public schools, healthcare facilities, and courthouses. Schools were required to adopt specific protocols, such as designating points of contact and protecting student data, by the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Tensions between state leadership and federal authorities increased after a series of rapid immigration arrests in New Bedford. Governor Healey demanded answers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding operations that targeted local employees, describing the complaints as “alarming” due to the impact on families and children. Concurrently, ICE reported the arrest of an undocumented migrant in Marlborough following a tractor-trailer accident. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-23: Massachusetts Governor demands ICE answers over rapid immigration arrests Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is demanding accountability from ICE following rapid immigration arrests in New Bedford that have left families separated and local industries impacted. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/massachusetts-governor-demands-ice-answers-over-rapid-immigration-arrests ### 2026-08-25: Massachusetts issues guidance for schools on immigration enforcement Massachusetts has released guidance for schools and childcare centers on handling ICE enforcement, following the PROTECT Act which expands protections against warrantless civil immigration arrests. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/massachusetts-issues-guidance-for-schools-on-immigration-enforcement --- Cite as: Massachusetts immigration enforcement and state protections. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/massachusetts-immigration-enforcement-and-state-protections