Massachusetts Senate Passes Bill Banning ICE Arrests at Schools and Courthouses

TL;DR: Massachusetts Senate approved a 37‑3 vote on a bill that prohibits ICE arrests at courthouses, schools, hospitals, houses of worship and childcare facilities.

The legislation moves forward after Governor Maura Healey introduced a similar package in January. The Senate’s version adds restrictions on local police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and expands protections for families facing detention.

Senate President Karen E. Spilka said the measure aims to protect immigrant families, uphold constitutional rights and counter what she described as “Trump’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement.” She noted incidents of children being separated from parents and students being detained as evidence of a climate of fear that the Commonwealth will not accept.

Key provisions of the bill include: - A ban on immigration arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals and childcare facilities. - Prohibition of Massachusetts law‑enforcement participation in 287(g) agreements, which allow ICE to partner with local agencies for civil immigration enforcement. - A ban on stopping, questioning or targeting individuals solely based on immigration or citizenship status. - Restrictions on deploying out‑of‑state National Guard units into Massachusetts without authorization. - A mechanism for parents facing detention or deportation to arrange guardianship for their children.

The vote saw 37 senators in favor and three opposed—Republicans Rep. Kelly Dooner, Rep. Ryan Fattman and Rep. Peter Durant. Immigrant‑rights groups, including the ACLU of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, praised the bill as a “major step forward” in rejecting federal immigration raids.

The bill is a revised version of legislation that passed the House in March. Because of the changes, it must return to the House for approval before reaching Governor Healey’s desk. Lawmakers have until early January to reach a compromise, a timeline the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus says is too slow given upcoming high‑profile events.

If enacted, the law would not limit local police ability to investigate crimes, but it would curtail their role in civil immigration matters. The next hurdle is a conference committee that will reconcile Senate and House versions before the bill can be signed.

What to watch next: The House’s response and the outcome of the conference committee will determine whether the protections take effect before the state’s major events later this year.