Healey moves to keep ICE agents out of schools, courts, hospitals and other 'sensitive spaces'

Gov. Maura Healey announced Thursday she will file legislation to bar federal immigration agents from entering a wide range of spaces — from schools and courthouses to hospitals — and plans to sign an executive order prohibiting ICE from using most state buildings and resources.

The two-pronged action comes as Healey has ramped up criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown after federal agents fatally shot two people in Minnesota this month and as Democratic governors grapple with the specter of aggressive federal actions in their home states.

"We're standing up to an agency and an administration that are out of control," Healey said at the State House, flanked by lawmakers, faith leaders and members of local law enforcement. She later stated, "The president needs to fix ICE."

Healey’s executive order could put state officials in direct confrontation with federal agents working for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. But the governor said her order is meant to “protect” state resources.

“Our action today is actually in line with what was long-established federal policy. It used to be that federal agents and partners in law enforcement recognized those sensitive spaces,” Healey said, adding that chaotic federal immigration actions are disrupting communities and “making no one safer.”

She said the order will bar federal immigration agents from making civil arrests in non-public parts of state buildings, prohibit them from using state spaces for staging purposes and bar state agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE unless there is a public safety need.

The governor said her bill will prohibit federal immigration agents from entering schools, day cares, child care centers, hospitals and health clinics without a judicial warrant. The legislation also would bar civil arrests for individuals attending services at houses of worship.

The proposal — which will need signoff from the state Legislature — also would ban warrantless civil arrests in courthouses and make it unlawful for another state to send its National Guard into Massachusetts without the permission of the Bay State’s governor.

Senate President Karen Spilka stood next to Healey as the governor announced her legislation and executive order.

"Let me be clear, the Senate will also do everything in its power to return these proposals to your desk for your signature soon," Spilka said.

The bill also will allow parents to pre-arrange guardianship for their children in case the parents are detained or deported, Healey said.

"We are going to make it easy for parents to take the step of guardianship in the event, the tragic event, it is necessary for their family," Healey said.

WBUR has previously reported that groups are helping parents with this issue, and that ICE has pursued people in courthouses and scared people away from attending school.

“We have people right now in Massachusetts who are afraid to send their children to school or day care,” Healey said. She described agents "instigating, antagonizing and, yes, causing violence in communities. People have been killed. Others have been shot.”

Federal authorities previously conducted two immigration enforcement operations in Massachusetts last year that netted thousands of arrests and a lawsuit from the Department of Justice homes in on immigration-related policies in the city of Boston.

The Trump administration also sent immigration agents to Maine this month, where federal officials said they've arrested hundreds of people as part of a large-scale operation.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Thursday she was assured by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will end its operation in the state. But federal officials have not confirmed that.

Healey has called on Noem to resign and for federal immigration agents to leave cities like Minneapolis. She took aim at Noem only days after a U.S. Border Patrol officer fatally shot Alex Pretti and weeks after an ICE officer killed Renee Macklin Good.

“I really hope Americans take this in and understand the very sad and dangerous moment we've reached in this country. And it's why Kristi Noem has got to go," Healey told reporters Monday.

Healey went a step further Wednesday after unveiling her yearly state budget proposal, arguing the Trump administration is promoting “absolute bulls--- rhetoric” on immigration.

“They have no respect for cities and states,” Healey said. “Think about the devastation of so many families across this country who've seen their loved ones taken away. It's hurting our economy. It's hurting our businesses. It's hurting our national reputation.”