Issue · Immigration

Immigration (Sanctuary Policies)

Every immigration bill, vote, and legislator stance in Massachusetts, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
21
194th Legislature (2025-2026)
Top supporter
Aaron Michlewitz
100% support rate
Top opponent
Dave Vieira
0% support rate
Ranked legislators
10
5 support · 5 oppose
Key legislators

Who's moving sanctuary policies in Massachusetts

Legislators moving sanctuary policies in Massachusetts
Legislator Party Stance Support rate Votes
Aaron Michlewitz
Aaron Michlewitz House · District 3rd Suffolk
D
Strong +
100% 3
Aaron Saunders
Aaron Saunders House · District 7th Hampden
D
Strong +
100% 3
Adrian Madaro
Adrian Madaro House · District 1st Suffolk
D
Strong +
100% 3
Adrianne Ramos
Adrianne Ramos House · District 14th Essex
D
Strong +
100% 3
Alan Silvia
Alan Silvia House · District 7th Bristol
D
Strong +
100% 3
Dave Vieira
Dave Vieira House · District 3rd Barnstable
R
Strong −
0% 3
Hannah Kane
Hannah Kane House · District 11th Worcester
R
Strong −
0% 3
Mike Chaisson
Mike Chaisson House · District 1st Bristol
R
Strong −
0% 3
Alyson Sullivan-Almeida
Alyson Sullivan-Almeida House · District 7th Plymouth
R
Oppose
33% 3
Dave Muradian
Dave Muradian House · District 9th Worcester
R
Oppose
33% 3
Showing 1–10 of 21 bills

All immigration bills

signed · Massachusetts · House Aug 5, 2026

H 5620: An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment

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.
in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SD 3636: An Act to get ICE out of families

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to get ICE out of families. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SD 3638: An Act to de-ICE Massachusetts law enforcement

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to de-ICE Massachusetts law enforcement. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 726: An Act empowering law enforcement to cooperate with the United States to transfer custody of convicted criminals

By Mr. Tarr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1776) of Bruce E. Tarr, Hannah Kane and Steven George Xiarhos for legislation to empower law enforcement to cooperate with the United States to transfer custody of convicted criminals. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 263: An Act relative to sanctuary cities and towns

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.
introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3478: An Act to enhance public safety

HD 3478 requires Massachusetts local and state law enforcement agencies (like police departments and sheriff's offices) to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainers. This means agencies must hold individuals for up to 48 hours beyond their scheduled release to allow ICE to take custody, share immigration status information upon request, and participate in joint ICE operations when feasible. The bill mandates annual reporting on detainer compliance and includes exceptions for constitutional rights or lack of probable cause for criminal charges. It also requires the state to provide training and resources to support law enforcement in meeting these requirements. The law applies directly to all local and state law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts.
introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3744: An Act supporting and honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawful detainments (SHIELD Act)

This bill requires Massachusetts local law enforcement agencies to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests to detain individuals convicted or charged with specific serious offenses: aggravated felonies (e.g., murder, drug trafficking), violent crimes, gang offenses, or terrorism. It mandates holding these individuals for ICE custody if they meet any of these categories, or if an officer determines they pose a public safety threat. The law applies to all state, municipal, college, and university police departments, sheriffs' offices, and correctional facilities within Massachusetts. It creates a legal obligation for local agencies to honor these ICE detainer requests under defined circumstances.
introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 582: An Act relative to state compliance with detainer requests

This bill requires Massachusetts state and local law enforcement agencies to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests. It mandates that agencies notify ICE at least 24 hours before releasing an individual subject to a detainer or hold them for up to 48 hours, and prohibits agencies from having policies that refuse such requests. The law also requires all law enforcement officials to complete training on detainer procedures within six months and mandates annual reports detailing how many detainers were honored, with reasons for any non-compliance. The bill directly affects all state, municipal, and campus police departments, sheriffs' offices, courts, and correctional facilities in Massachusetts.
introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 723: An Act to enhance the authority of courts to protect public safety

SD 723 allows Massachusetts court officers to temporarily detain individuals for up to 12 hours at ICE's request, provided a judge confirms specific public safety risks. It directly affects immigrants facing deportation who meet criteria like terrorism convictions, gang involvement, certain felonies, or serious crimes (e.g., domestic violence, drug trafficking). The bill requires judges to review ICE's written request and administrative warrant before granting detention and mandates written justification if denied. It also requires judges to consider ICE detainer requests when setting or adjusting bail, potentially delaying release pending federal action.
introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3535: An Act relative to administering state and local agreements

This bill requires Massachusetts sheriffs, correctional facilities, and local law enforcement agencies to only perform federal immigration enforcement activities (under 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g)) if the federal government covers all costs, including employee compensation. It mandates that these entities maintain public records of such activities and submit annual reports to specific legislative committees, including the committees on ways and means and public safety. The law also defines key terms like "agreement" and "law enforcement agency" to clarify which state and local entities must comply.
Showing 1 to 10 of 21 bills
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