Letter: “A call for action to stop complicity with ICE actions”

Kelene Blumstein, “Letter: A call for action to stop complicity with ICE actions,” The Harvard Press, February 20, 2026.

According to reliable news reports, ICE’s violent actions are happening across the country, including in Massachusetts. We must not allow this to happen in Harvard—or anywhere. In my opinion, these operations make our communities less safe.

The Department of Homeland Security is systematically abusing its authority through unlawful raids, while spreading propaganda and misinformation to justify its actions. This climate of aggression undermines public safety and erodes trust in all law enforcement.

Massachusetts cannot stop everything ICE is doing, but we must stop being complicit.

Gov. Healey and state legislators are finally hearing the public’s demand for action—but it matters that we pass legislation that truly meets this moment.

We must demand that:

  • State and local law enforcement do not assist ICE or act as ICE agents.
  • Massachusetts law enforcement never assist ICE in civil immigration arrests or ask people about their immigration status.
  • ICE’s 287(g) program—which turns local officers into ICE agents—should be ended. Massachusetts is the only blue state with a 287(g) agreement. Gov. Healey can end this with a stroke of the pen.

Let’s demand that our legislators pass the Safe Communities Act, the PROTECT Act, and the Dignity Not Deportations Bill.

These bills would:

  • Truly separate local police from ICE.
  • End all 287(g) agreements.
  • Protect access to courthouses and schools.

Let’s keep our police focused on community safety.

Kelene Blumstein, Littleton Road

Letter: “Stop ICE in Massachusetts “

Al Blake, “Letter: Stop ICE in Massachusetts,” Berkshire Eagle, February 18, 2026.

To the editor: Every day, we see horrific violence by federal immigration agents across the country, including here in Massachusetts.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s actions are making all of our communities less safe. Berkshire residents have turned out in big numbers to protests and standouts demanding that our elected leaders do more leading and stand up to the cruelty and lawlessness of the Trump administration.

There was a recent surge of ICE activity in Maine, and Massachusetts could be targeted next, so we must stop being complicit. Gov. Maura Healey and Beacon Hill legislators are finally getting the memo that the public wants to see action. But it matters that we pass legislation that truly meets the moment. Beacon Hill should make it clear: State and local law enforcement should not be assisting ICE and should not be acting as ICE agents. Massachusetts law enforcement must never assist ICE in making civil immigration arrests or ask members of the public about their immigration status. We are the only state with a Democratic governor and Democratic-majority Legislature to still have a statewide 287(g) agreement with ICE. Gov. Healey can end this collaboration with a stroke of the pen.

Al Blake, Becket

The MA House Held “Listening Sessions” This Week. Did Your Rep Speak Up?

This week, MA House Democratic Leadership held a series of listening sessions to learn about what rank-and-file members want to do about ICE and about protecting our immigrant communities in Massachusetts.

The fact that these listening sessions are happening is an indicator that your calls and emails are breaking through: they know they need to do something.

But here’s a question: if they were listening, who was talking?

Was your state rep speaking up and advocating for policy that meets the moment? The only way to know is to ask.

Feel free to use our writing tool or find your state rep’s phone number and email and reach out with a simple script:

“I was glad to hear that the MA House held listening sessions this week about action to take to rein in ICE and protect our communities. It is important in Massachusetts that we prevent state and local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE or being deputized as ICE agents. What priorities did you bring up in the listening sessions this week, and how are you working with colleagues to turn them into law?”

Email Your State Rep

Other states are taking action. Just yesterday, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill to prohibit state and local governments from entering into agreements to detain individuals for civil immigration violations, stop the use of public land for immigration detention, and ban 287(g) agreements that turn local law enforcement into immigration agents. MA should be leading, not playing catch-up.

PM in the News: “After months of escalation, Healey took action to counter ICE. Fellow Democrats ask: Is it enough?”

Samantha Gross and Matt Stout, “After months of escalation, Healey took action to counter ICE. Fellow Democrats ask: Is it enough?,” Boston Globe, February 3, 2026.

Jonathan Cohn, policy director at the advocacy group Progressive Mass., said Healey admittedly can’t stop ICE operations here, but questioned whether the state is using its “full power” to push back.

“Putting garlic on your door to ward off a vampire is good,” he said, “but what happens if it doesn’t work?”

Tell Gov. Healey: De-ICE Massachusetts

Last week, Gov. Healey held a press conference focused on a new executive order and new proposed legislation aimed at ICE. But here’s a problem: she reaffirmed her commitment to continued collaboration with ICE.

MA is the only state in New England with a collaboration agreement, known as 287(g), between the state’s Department of Correction and ICE and the only New England Democratic governor to have any collaboration agreement at all.

Massachusetts should not be making ICE’s job easier. End stop.

Email Gov. Healey and tell her it’s time to end the contract with ICE.

THURSDAY at the State House: Declaration of Independence from ICE

As ICE agents shoot, kill, and execute people in Minnesota, the people in Massachusetts stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota:ICE out of Minnesota, ICE out of MA, and ICE out from all of our communities.

Join Indivisible Mass Coalition, Progressive Mass, ACLU-MA, MIRA, Brazilian Center, and Field First this Thursday, January 29 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at the MA State House to talk with your legislators and demand action now.

RSVP here.

You can also join a prep webinar tomorrow, Wednesday January 28 at 7:00 pm to get talking points to help facilitate a productive conversation with your legislator.

Register for the webinar here.

Can’t join in person? You can still take action.

PM in the News: “‘No doubt it may get worse before it gets better’ — Breaking down the 2026 State of the Commonwealth.”

Commonwealth Beacon Staff, “‘No doubt it may get worse before it gets better’ — Breaking down the 2026 State of the Commonwealth.,” CommonWealth Beacon, January 26, 2026.

Jonathan Cohn, policy director of Progressive Massachusetts, said after the speech that “the governor offered nothing. Let’s be clear: reining in ICE violence is a kitchen table [matter], as there is no such thing as affordability when families are being broken apart and workers are being kidnapped on the way to work.”