Boston City Council reaffirms line between local police and federal immigration officials

The Boston City Council reaffirmed how local law enforcement does — or doesn't — work with federal immigration officials.

The council adopted the resolution to reaffirm The Trust Act on Wednesday, which was originally enacted in 2014 and updated in 2019.

Mayor Michelle Wu had also reiterated Boston's status as a so-called "sanctuary city" in November following Donald Trump's re-election. The president-elect has promised to begin mass deportations as soon as he takes office in January.

In the resolution adopted Wednesday, the city councilors acknowledged how immigrants have "enriched the city's culture, economy, and community, yet proposals for mass deportations represent a direct attack on Boston's immigrant families, and threaten to tear communities apart."

The Trust Act distinguishes the different responsibilities of the Boston Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and only permits police to collaborate with ICE on matters of significant public safety like human trafficking or child exploitation — not deportation.

In the resolution, the councilors wrote the city must protect "our immigrant residents by creating a safe environment where all residents, regardless of immigration status, can report crimes, seek assistance, and live without fear of discrimination."

The ACLU of Massachusetts has been pushing for municipalities to limit police coordination with ICE ahead of Trump's inauguration in January.

Carol Rose, ACLU of Massachusetts' executive director, praised Boston City Council's recommitment.

“State and local governments should use their limited resources to provide the highest possible quality services to residents, keeping communities safe and ensuring all people have what they need to thrive — not enforcing federal immigration efforts that leave children without their parents, employers without their workers, and send fear throughout our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods," Rose said in a statement.

In the wake of the election, Gov. Maura Healey said Massachusetts State Police would not aid immigration enforcement. There are no official lists of sanctuary cities, and measures vary from city to city. Cambridge and Somerville have had ordinances in place since the 1980s, and have recommitted to them since this election. Amherst and Northampton have also reaffirmed their stance in the past month.