This bill directs the governor to limit civil immigration enforcement activities within nonpublic areas of state-owned buildings and properties, unless required by federal law or specific state programs. It requires the creation of multilingual guidelines for state agencies, private organizations, and schools on how to verify the authority of immigration officers and handle related interactions. Additionally, the bill empowers the attorney general to file civil lawsuits against any law enforcement officer who violates specific federal statutes regarding immigration enforcement.
SD 3643 (An Act to uncover ICE) prohibits Massachusetts' registrar from issuing confidential or undercover license plates to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers or agents for any purpose, including undercover operations. The bill directly affects ICE personnel operating in Massachusetts by banning the use of such plates for undercover work. Key provisions require revoking any existing confidential plates issued to ICE within 30 days of the law's effective date and preventing their renewal. This is a procedural change to vehicle registration rules, not a substantive immigration policy. (Bill pending referral to the Transportation committee.)
This bill changes Massachusetts' in-state tuition eligibility rules for public colleges. It states that non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents (under federal immigration law) are no longer eligible for in-state tuition rates. The law defines "resident of the commonwealth" as requiring U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status, as specified in federal law. It also includes a specific exception for students attending the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who reside in states designated as part of the regional maritime academy region. The change directly affects undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents seeking in-state tuition at public higher education institutions.
HD 263 requires Massachusetts cities and towns to allow local officials to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. It prohibits local governments from banning employees from asking about immigration status of detained individuals, sharing that information with federal authorities, assisting immigration officers, or blocking federal officers from entering local facilities. If a town fails to comply, the Attorney General can sue, and the state will reduce its unrestricted government aid payments by $2,000-$15,000 per day based on the town's population. This bill directly affects all Massachusetts municipalities by overriding existing "sanctuary" policies that limit immigration cooperation. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill requires Massachusetts state agencies to verify applicants' immigration status before providing certain benefits. It mandates that departments administering transitional assistance, housing programs for low-income families, WIC, and MassHealth register for and use the federal SAVES program to confirm applicants are U.S. citizens or "lawfully present aliens." The key provision adds specific verification steps to existing laws for each program, requiring agencies to check eligibility through this federal system prior to disbursing benefits. This directly affects individuals applying for these state-funded programs who must prove their immigration status under the new requirement.
This bill modifies Massachusetts law regarding immigration cooperation and emergency housing assistance. For public safety, it requires state/local law enforcement to detain certain individuals for up to 12 hours (with judicial review within that timeframe) when ICE requests custody for non-citizens convicted of specific serious offenses like terrorism, gang activity, or violent crimes. For emergency housing, it restricts eligibility to U.S. citizens or immigrants with 12 consecutive months of continuous Massachusetts residency, requiring specific documentation (e.g., tax returns, driver's license, utility bills) and prohibiting fraudulent applications. These changes directly affect immigrants seeking housing assistance and law enforcement agencies handling ICE requests.
By Representative Lombardo of Billerica, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 263) of Marc T. Lombardo relative to eligibility for certain entitlement programs. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
By Representative Boldyga of Southwick, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2573) of Nicholas A. Boldyga for legislation to require mandatory cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by local and state law enforcement agencies. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
S 1096, the SHIELD Act, requires state and local law enforcement agencies to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests. It directly affects police departments and jails that receive ICE requests to hold individuals. The bill mandates that officials detain people for up to 48 hours beyond their release date if ICE issues a valid request. This policy change shifts responsibility to local authorities to facilitate ICE custody without requiring federal charges.
