The Needham Area Immigration Justice Task Force submitted testimony to the Joint Committee on Public Health and Homeland Security and the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
The three bills are:
- Safe Communities Act (SCA)
- Dignity Not Deportation (DND)
- Immigrant Legal Defense Act (ILDA)
The Safe Communities Act (SCA), H.2580/S.1681, An Act to protect the civil rights and safety of all Massachusetts residents, which would limit voluntary police and court involvement in civil immigration matters, protect basic rights, and keep law enforcement agencies focused on public safety. It is assigned to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. View the Fact Sheet prepared by MIRA and the NAIJTF written testimony for SCA.
Both of the other two bills are under the Joint Committee for the Judiciary.
H.1588/S.1122 An Act relative to immigration detention and collaboration agreements (Dignity not Deportation—DND) would prohibit MA entities (such as law enforcement) from entering into detention and collaboration agreements with ICE. View the Fact Sheet prepared by the ACLU of MA and the NAIJTF written testimony on ILDA.
H.1954/S.1127, An Act ensuring access to equitable representation in immigration proceedings (Immigrant Legal Defense Act—ILDA) would create a public and private funded program to provide no-cost immigration legal defense to immigrants in Massachusetts who are at imminent risk of deportation, especially those held in federal immigration detention. View the Fact Sheet and FAQs prepared by MIRA and the NAIJTF written testimony on DND.
Watch the November 25 Hearings on the MA Legislature website.