By Bob Katzen
Senate 10-29, rejected an amendment to a section of the bill that prohibits local and state police from participating in civil federal immigration enforcement.
The amendment would allow limited cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies only in cases involving individuals convicted of serious crimes under state and federal law such as rape, murder and human trafficking. Under the amendment, Massachusetts law enforcement agencies would be allowed to continue honoring federal immigration detainer requests only for these violent, convicted felons.
“I cannot support hindering the ability of our state and local law enforcement to make our communities safer by barring them from working with federal law enforcement to apprehend dangerous felons accused of committing some of the most heinous crimes,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton). He noted that his amendment would only apply to the “worst of the worst.”
Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) said that if someone’s been convicted of a felony and been sentenced to a Department of Correction (DOC) facility, that person will already be subjected to DOC’s 287g agreement which allows authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight. She noted that the bill allows DOC to continue this agreement beyond just transporting that person to ICE and deputizes a staff member at the DOC to act as an ICE agent. She argued that the state already participates in a significant amount of immigration enforcement when it comes to those who have committed to selling felonies.
“While it is my understanding that the unamended PROTECT Act allows law enforcement cooperation with federal officials when serious crimes are being investigated, I voted in favor of [this] amendment out of an abundance of caution,” said Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury).
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment that would allow limited cooperation between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies only in cases involving individuals convicted of serious crimes. A “No” vote is against the amendment.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen No