Massachusetts bill would restrict ICE arrests in courthouses
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A bill on Beacon Hill could make it harder for federal agents to detain someone at a courthouse over civil immigration violations.
Why it matters: Supporters say these arrests erode the due process rights of people showing up to court, like the man who was detained in an alley behind the East Boston courthouse in November.
- Those arrests could become more common if Massachusetts sees a surge in immigration enforcement.
Driving the news: Sen. Lydia Edwards, a Boston Democrat, filed a proposal to make federal agents present a judicial warrant before detaining someone on courthouse grounds.
- The bill would also require a judicial warrant for agents detaining people on their way to or from a court proceeding.
What they're saying: "Everyone going to court should be able to go there, do their business, feel physically safe but also legally safe," Edwards tells Axios.
Zoom out: The bill has similar restrictions as those passed in Connecticut and New York, where a federal judge upheld a state law barring immigration agents from courthouses.
By the numbers: The Massachusetts Trial Court recorded at least 614 arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at courthouses in 2025.
- One-fifth of them were in Region V, which includes Boston Municipal Court and several other courts in eastern Massachusetts.
How it works: Law enforcement officials would have to identify themselves when entering the courthouse and present a judicial warrant before detaining someone over a civil immigration violation.
- The warrant requirement wouldn't apply if they were trying to arrest someone convicted of murder or someone identified by the FBI as a terrorist threat.
- The bill would also prevent anyone in court from wearing a mask or face covering, unless they're masking to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or another airborne virus.
Reality check: The bill's chances of becoming law are entirely up to legislative leaders — they could fast-track it or let it sit unaddressed on Beacon Hill for the rest of the legislative session.
- Representatives of House Speaker Ron Mariano did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
- A spokesperson for Senate President Karen Spilka said she will review the legislation and "will continue to unequivocally denounce ICE's appalling conduct."
- So far, the bill has six co-sponsors.