"The bill is built on four central pillars to ensure public safety in civil immigration matters, according to an official explainer from the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA Coalition). Primarily, the bill would prohibit police and court officials from questioning immigrants about their immigration status. Officials would also be required to obtain "written, informed consent" from immigrants held in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prior to being interviewed, according to the explainer."
"The bill would additionally prohibit officials from contacting ICE "about a person's pending release from custody, except at the end of a sentence of incarceration." Lastly, the Safe Communities Act would prevent local police and sheriffs from becoming involved in federal immigration enforcement, according to the MIRA Coalition. The explainer states that "federal funding enticements" have left local law enforcement "vulnerable to federal pressure" but that the bill would leave all statewide ICE matters in the hands of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections."
Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced the Safe Communities Act to protect immigrant civil rights and public safety. The bill would bar police and court officials from questioning people about immigration status. It would require written, informed consent before ICE can interview immigrants in ICE custody. The bill would restrict officials from notifying ICE about a person's pending release from custody except at the end of a criminal sentence. It would prevent local police and sheriffs from participating in federal immigration enforcement and consolidate statewide ICE matters under the Massachusetts Department of Corrections. The bill responds to increased federal immigration enforcement.
Read at Boston.com
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