The MA Senate today voted 37 to 3 to pass the PROTECT Act, which takes important steps to protect immigrant communities in Massachusetts, such as banning new 287(g) agreements, preventing law enforcement from asking about immigration status or using resources for civil immigration enforcement, limiting information sharing with ICE, protecting courthouses and other sensitive locations, and more.
After four efforts to weaken the bill, Republicans Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) and Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) joined Democrats in voting for it.
Bruce Tarr’s amendment to strike language giving any money received for the Department of Correction’s 287(g) agreement with ICE to the Office of Refugees and Immigrants failed 5 to 34 (party line).
His amendment to bar any entity receiving public funds for legal representation in immigration law from representing undocumented people similarly failed on a party line vote of 5 to 34. Amid attacks on due process, everyone should be entitled to representation. Legal representation can actually help people secure legal status.
Tarr’s amendment to weaken the provision banning police from asking about immigration status failed 7 to 32, with Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) and John Velis (D-Westfield) joining Republicans.
Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton)’s amendment to allow ICE detainers, which violate due process rights as well as the Massachusetts constitution, failed 10 to 29. John Cronin (D-Fitchburg), Barry Finegold (D-Andover), Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford), Michael Moore (D-Millbury), and John Velis (D-Westfield) joined Republicans in voting for it.
The Senate adopted seven amendments to strengthen the bill:
- Senator Lydia Edwards (D-East Boston)’s amendments to protect the courthouse grounds as well as the insides of courthouses (#10) and to establish a commission on matters related to federal immigration enforcement in the Commonwealth (#20)
- Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough)’s amendment to expedite the process for victims of trafficking and other such crimes to secure U and T visas (#11)
- Senator Adam Gómez (D-Springfield)’s amendments to expedite the bill’s effective date (#7) and to broaden the definition of child care center (#34)
- Senator Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester)’s amendment to extend sensitive locations protections to Department of Developmental Services facilities and Mass Health Day Habilitation programs (#6)
- Senator Liz Miranda (D-Roxbury)’s amendment to protect health care workers against retaliation for any attempts to act in good faith in following the bill’s dictates (#13)
