Healey blasts ICE, presses GOP rivals
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Gov. Maura Healey blasted ICE's deadly enforcement tactics yesterday and demanded her Republican gubernatorial rivals denounce the federal agency.
Why it matters: Healey's comments came after ICE agents fatally shot two people in one week — one in Maine, one in Texas — intensifying a national debate over the agency's tactics.
- She's also running for reelection against Republicans with softer views of ICE and its mission.
What she's saying: Healey said the shootings show ICE agents are "acting in ways where they're not following good law enforcement practices" and called the deaths "outrageous."
- She argued ICE's tactics are harming public safety and local economies, pointing to detained immigrants who have valid work authorizations.
- Healey said the issue isn't confined to Maine or Texas. Masked ICE agents have shown up at homes in Massachusetts as early as 5am this week, she said.
Between the lines: Healey is using the national flare-up over ICE's tactics to draw a contrast with her GOP challengers, Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve, saying both support ICE's tactics and President Trump.
- "Explain to me how you cannot be outraged at what is happening," she said yesterday, adding that support for ICE should be disqualifying for the governor's office in Massachusetts.
The other side: MassGOP chair Amy Carnevale countered by backing the pause of ICE traffic stops and increased training for agents. (President Trump on Wednesday reversed the traffic stop pause.)
- She slammed what she called Healey's sanctuary-style policies, arguing the governor's refusal to cooperate with federal authorities lets "violent offenders... walk free instead of being held accountable."
- "We need to enforce our laws and do it by the books," Shortsleeve told Axios in a statement, adding that Healey's oversight of state agencies that work with migrants led to cost overruns and "a massive economic and humanitarian disaster."
- The Minogue campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The bottom line: Healey is betting that voter anger over ICE's tactics will remind independent and unenrolled voters what their choices in the election really are.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include a statement from Brian Shortsleeve.