Governor Maura Healey signed landmark legislation on Wednesday that establishes what she describes as the strongest protections in the nation against Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in sensitive locations. The signing ceremony took place at La Colaborativa in Chelsea, underscoring the city's vital role in immigrant advocacy across Massachusetts.

The PROTECT Act—short for An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment—prohibits warrantless civil immigration arrests at courthouses, public schools, childcare centers, hospitals, community health centers, and nursing homes. The law builds upon an executive order Governor Healey issued earlier this year, codifying those protections into permanent state law.

"The PROTECT Act is the strongest law in the country to protect people from ICE," Healey said during the signing ceremony. "No one should be afraid to send their child to school, seek medical care, or fear reporting a crime or appearing in court. It makes us all less safe."

The legislation addresses what state officials describe as a public safety crisis fueled by aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Massachusetts Trial Court data recorded at least 614 ICE courthouse arrests statewide in 2025. At least 20 occurred at East Boston District Court, while Chelsea officials separately reported more than 30 ICE enforcement incidents at the Chelsea courthouse during a six-month period. Healey noted that ICE presence has deterred witnesses and victims from participating in criminal cases, leading to dismissed prosecutions.

Beyond restricting ICE access to sensitive locations, the PROTECT Act includes several additional protections. Parents can now pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case they face detention or deportation. The law also creates a new state civil rights claim allowing residents to sue government officials, including ICE agents, who violate their constitutional rights. Additionally, the legislation generally prohibits new 287(g) agreements for civil immigration enforcement, while allowing limited criminal-investigation arrangements that meet additional safeguards and preserving the Department of Correction's existing agreement.

The bill signing drew emotional responses from community advocates and lawmakers who have pushed for stronger protections. Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, praised the legislation: "The PROTECT Act affirms what should never have needed saying at all: our schools, our courthouses, and our workplaces are not hunting grounds."

For Chelsea residents, the law represents a significant step toward ensuring community safety and preserving access to essential services. State data shows approximately 7,000 fewer English learners enrolled in Massachusetts public schools during the 2025–2026 school year. The decline coincided with heightened immigration enforcement, and Chelsea families cited both ICE activity and the cost of living among their reasons for leaving.

"Today, Massachusetts is standing up for what's right and taking action to keep our people and our communities safe," Healey said. "We're going to keep working together to make Massachusetts and this country the place we all want it to be."

The legislation comes amid reports that ICE is seeking to lease 250 parking spaces in downtown Boston to support expanded enforcement operations. Governor Healey has publicly opposed that plan, stating that Massachusetts "cannot enable them to ramp up even further."

Residents with concerns about immigration enforcement can report misconduct through a portal established by the Attorney General's Office. The PROTECT Act also requires multilingual guidance on immigration enforcement procedures and individual rights to be made available across the state.