Progressive Mass

#worcester is relaunching a chapter of @progressivemass.bsky.social we welcome you to join us as we build a stronger progressive base in our city!

Op Ed: Our State Legislators Must Protect Our Human Rights by Sponsoring the Safe Communities Act | Westwood Minute Heather Ford posted an opinion on Fri March 6, 2026 2:45 pm

"Governor Healey and Beacon Hill legislators are finally getting the memo that the public wants to see action. But it matters that we pass legislation that meets this unprecedented moment." #mapoli westwoodminute.town.news/g/westwood-m...

Next week! Hope to see you there! #mapoli

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#mapoli

Was in and out of the 6+ hour PROTECT Act hearing today but was happy that my much-abridged testimony got to be the final word of the day:

"The best time to ban formal and informal collaboration with ICE was yesterday. The second best time is now."

Joshua Dankoff from Citizens for Juvenile Justice talks about his research on local policies on police collaboration with ICE. #mapoli

Amy Nishman of Jewish Vocational Services talks about why passing the PROTECT Act is so critical to our workforce. #mapoli

Eny Lovo of Neighbors United for a Better East Boston talks about the work NUBE has done supporting people in court houses. She also pushes back against harmful "good immigrant vs. bad immigrant" narratives. #mapoli

Heather Yountz of MLRI testifies in support of the PROTECT and urges the committee to include language requiring transparency around workplace raids. #mapoli

Jen Klein of CPCS is now testifying on the importance of protecting our courthouses from ICE. #mapoli

And we’re back at the PROTECT Act hearing!

Panel up is Maroni Minter of MIRA, Pablo Ruiz of SEIU 32BJ, snd Gavi Wolfe of the ACLU of Massachusetts. #mapoli

In August, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Correction told me that the state prison system transferred 164 people into ICE custody in 2023 and 2024.

I filed a records request seeking data for other years besides 23-24, since the state has been working with ICE long before 2023.

Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.

As we reported in @boltsmag.org last month, Massachusetts is the *only* state with a Democratic governor + legislature that maintains a state-level 287(g) agreement with ICE. As part of this agreement, Massachusetts often funnels people exiting prison into deportation.

boltsmag.org/massachusett...

The Massachusetts Department of Correction has been fighting me for months, trying to withhold data about its collaboration with ICE.

Yesterday, I won that fight, and obtained records showing that the state has transferred more than 2,000 people into ICE custody since 2009.

A quick thread:

🧵👇🏻

🧵 about today's testimony about the PROTECT Act 👇

Grace Moreno of Unidos: "I see other states passing legislation like this, and we don't look so blue right now." #mapoli

Marcelo Gomes da Silva talks about how the appearance of police collaborating with ICE does long-term damage to trust. #mapoli

Tatiana Vasquez (sp? Transcript text, but missed her direct opener) talks about how the culture of fear around ICE has been harming small businesses in Framingham. #mapoli

Heloisa Galvão of the Brazilian Women's Group: "We cannot continue to live in this state of terror." #mapoli

Rep. Priscila Sousa of Framingham introduces a MetroWest panel. #mapoli

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Chelsea mother gives moving testimony talking about being afraid to go to a court house to seek justice for her daughter:

"The last time my family walked out of a court house with hope, my husband was taken away."

#mapoli

Gladys Vega, executive director of La Colaborativa in Chelsea, talks about people in Chelsea who are not going to pursue justice for horrible crimes committed against them because they are afraid of putting them or the loved ones at risk of deportation. #mapoli

Fidel Maltez, City Manager of Chelsea: "Over the past year, close to 400 students have left the Chelsea Public Schools....These are families who came to America in search of opportunity like my mother did. Yet they are gone because they are afraid to leave their homes." #mapoli

State Rep Judith Garcia of Chelsea: "Residents that I represent go to our Chelsea district court to deal with cases that have nothing to do with immigration--child custody, divorces---and they are surprised with federal agents arresting them and detaining them." #mapoli

Rep. Christine Barber, who is the lead sponsor of the Dignity Not Deportations bill, testifies in support of the PROTECT Act and emphasizes the need to use the legal tools available to protect constituents. #mapoli

Current testifiers are from the AG’s Office, emphasizing the importance of prohibiting civil immigration arrests in courthouses. #mapoli

Sen. Miranda: “If this isn’t state terror, I don’t know what is.” #mapoli

Group of state legislators together testifying in support of the PROTECT Act. @senatorledwards.bsky.social and Sen. Liz Miranda have spoken so far.

#mapoli