(Boston Orange編譯) 麻州參議會今（ 7） 日通過旨在保護州民，對抗聯邦政府執行移民法時涉嫌濫權，明確禁止地方警察參與聯邦民事移民行動的「保護法（PROTECT Act）」。
在麻州參議會中編號S.3072的法案，針對聯邦探員建立了一套問責機制，以確保麻州居民在面對聯邦政府執法行動時，公民權益能得到州政府的法律保障。
該法案核心在於劃清「地方執法」與「聯邦移民任務」的界線。法案明文禁止州警與地方警力協助聯邦在民事案件中逮補移民，並把學校、醫院、法院、教堂及托兒所列為「執法禁區」，禁止在上述地點抓捕移民。
該法案也賦予面臨驅逐威脅家長預先安排子女監護權的法律空間，同時禁止其他州的國民警衛隊（National Guards）擅自進入麻州境內。
麻州參議會議長史派卡（Karen E. Spilka, D-Ashland）表示，此舉是為了回應川普（Donald Trump）政府執行移民法「武器化」造成的恐懼，強調麻州拒絕拆散家庭或在街頭隨意帶走學生的行徑。參議院指導與政策委員會（Senate Committee on Steering and Policy）主席弗里德曼（Cindy F. Friedman, D-Arlington）也補充，法案清晰界定了地方警官並無義務協助聯邦移民執法，這對維護社區信任至關重要。
代表勞倫斯市的參議員帕亞諾（Pavel M. Payano, D-Lawrence）強調，移民群體是麻州經濟與社區的重要支柱，州政府必須站在保護人性尊嚴的一方。參議院同時澄清，這項針對民事移民案件的保護法案，完全不會削弱地方警方調查與起訴刑事犯罪的既有權力。
Senate Passes PROTECT Act to Defend Residents from Federal Immigration Overreach
PROTECT Act Creates New Accountability for Federal Agents
and Keeps Local Police Out of Civil Immigration Enforcement
(BOSTON—5/7/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today passed sweeping legislation to protect residents from the Trump administration’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement.
The PROTECT Act holds federal immigration agents legally accountable for civil rights violations, bars local and state police from participating in civil federal immigration enforcement, and prohibits immigration arrests at courthouses, houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and childcare facilities.
The bill also blocks unauthorized deployment of other states’ National Guards into Massachusetts and allows parents facing detention or deportation to pre-arrange guardianship for their children.
“Today, the Massachusetts Senate is taking action to protect immigrant families, defend constitutional rights, and stand up to the fear and cruelty being fueled by Donald Trump’s weaponization of federal immigration enforcement,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Across our Commonwealth, we are seeing children torn from their parents, students pulled off the street, and families living in fear—and we refuse to accept that as normal in Massachusetts.”
“The PROTECT Act is comprehensive legislation that defends the values enshrined in the Massachusetts Constitution, particularly equal protection under the law for all,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This bill will increase protections for our residents, spells out plainly and clearly that Massachusetts law enforcement officers are not responsible for aiding civil immigration enforcement, and importantly, stands up for our immigrant community in the face of an adversarial federal government. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, my colleagues in the Senate, especially members of the Committee on Steering and Policy and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and the advocates and stakeholders who contributed immensely to the strengthening of this bill.”
“My parents came to Lawrence with very little and gave everything they had to this community. That same story is being lived by immigrant families across our Gateway Cities today. They are our neighbors, our teachers, our health care workers, our small business owners. The people who keep Massachusetts moving,” said Senator Pavel M. Payano (D-Lawrence), a member of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy and the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. “The PROTECT Act makes clear that no matter what happens in Washington, Massachusetts will not allow our institutions or our communities to be weaponized against the people who helped build them. Today we made clear whose side we are on. This is an important step forward, but the fight to protect dignity and basic humanity is far from over.”
The legislation—S.3072, An Act promoting rule of law, oversight, trust and equal constitutional treatment—delivers targeted protections for those most at risk: young children, crime victims, legal residents with complex immigration statuses, and public employees subjected to federal intimidation.
The Senate’s PROTECT Act makes clear that none of its provisions limit local law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute a crime.
Additional provisions of the bill include:
• Preventing Racial Profiling and Unnecessary Immigration Checks: Prohibits state and local law enforcement from stopping, questioning, or targeting individuals based solely on immigration or citizenship status, strengthening protections against discrimination.
• Strengthens Trust in Local Law Enforcement: Bars Massachusetts law enforcement from participating in new federal “287(g)” agreements that deputize local police to carry out federal immigration enforcement duties.
• Protects Sensitive Community Spaces: Prohibits warrantless civil immigration arrests in sensitive locations such as schools, childcare centers, hospitals, houses of worship, and state courthouses, helping ensure residents can access essential services without fear.
• Supports Families Facing Immigration Detention: Allows parents to establish pre-arranged guardianship plans so children can remain safely cared for if a parent is detained or deported.
• Limits Local Involvement in Civil Immigration Enforcement: Clarifies that state and local law enforcement may not participate in civil immigration enforcement activities, including detaining individuals solely on immigration detainers or using routine stops to inquire about immigration status, while preserving full authority to enforce criminal law.
• Protects Victims and Witnesses of Crime: Strengthens protections for immigrants who are victims or witnesses of crimes, including trafficking victims, and expedites visa processes so they can safely assist law enforcement and prosecutors.
• Safeguards Public Employees Acting in Good Faith: Expands protections for state and municipal employees by allowing indemnification when they are acting within the scope of their official duties, shielding them from inappropriate federal intimidation or legal pressure.
The bill builds on proposals offered by the Governor, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and the House of Representatives, as the Legislature and the Executive Branch recognize the gravity and urgency of these issues and work together to address them in a timely and coordinated way.
The legislation is a product of extensive input from Senators, immigrant rights groups, members of the public, and law enforcement officials.
The PROTECT Act was the subject of a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security on March 18, 2026. The House passed a version of the bill on March 25, 2025. The Committee on Steering and Policy also considered policies recommended by Governor Maura Healey in outside sections of a supplemental budget she filed on January 29, 2026 (H.5050), among other proposals before the Legislature.
Full details of the legislation are available in a fact sheet in the Senate’s press room.
The Senate passed the PROTECT Act on a 37-3 roll call vote and sent it back to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
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