Massachusetts Must Follow California’s Lead to Protect Immigrant Families

Governor Maura Healey

Why This Matters

  • Immigrant families are part of Massachusetts
    They are parents, workers, caregivers, and students who help keep this state running.

  • Fear keeps people from seeking help
    When ICE operates in schools or hospitals, families avoid classrooms, doctors, and public services.

  • Warrants are not optional
    Entering schools or clinics without a judicial warrant violates basic legal protections and due process.

  • Masks and unmarked agents undermine public trust
    People have the right to know who is enforcing the law and under what authority.

  • These policies are already law in California
    Massachusetts is behind. There is no legal reason we cannot do the same.

  • Protecting rights strengthens public safety
    Clear rules protect everyone, immigrants, citizens, children, patients, and public workers.

Sponsored by
Img_2633
The Peacemakers Network
North Chelmsford, MA

To: Governor Maura Healey
From: [Your Name]

We, the undersigned, call on Governor Maura Healey and the Massachusetts Legislature to adopt clear, lawful protections for immigrant families in our state.
In September 2025, California enacted a comprehensive set of policies to stop harmful immigration enforcement practices in schools, hospitals, and public spaces. These laws responded to years of fear, uncertainty, and abuse, especially under the Trump administration.
California’s action proves that real protections are possible. Massachusetts has no excuse for delay.
Immigrant families in our state are not criminals. They are part of the workforce, part of our communities, and part of our schools. They are caregivers, construction workers, students, and parents. They are neighbors and residents who deserve to be treated with dignity and protected under the law like anyone else.
We ask Massachusetts to adopt protections that California has already implemented:
Require immigration agents to present a judicial warrant before entering nonpublic areas of schools, hospitals, or clinics
Require public schools to notify families, students, and staff when immigration enforcement agents are present on campus
Ban law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks or face coverings during public operations unless legally necessary
Require all law enforcement officers, including those not in uniform, to visibly display their name, badge number, and agency affiliation
Restrict the sharing of personal information or school and health records with immigration authorities unless legally compelled by a judge
These policies are not extreme. They are about enforcing existing laws, respecting constitutional limits, and making sure public spaces remain accessible and safe for all.
Massachusetts cannot claim to be a leader in civil rights while failing to protect immigrant families from avoidable harm. California has already shown what is possible. Now it is our turn.
We urge state leaders to act now. Immigrant families deserve more than words. They deserve real protections, clearly defined in law, grounded in due process, and implemented without delay.
Sign this petition to support legal, enforceable protections for immigrant families in Massachusetts.