Photo: Kyle Bray/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Activists from the Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition rallied at the State House on Tuesday in support of three bills that would push back against ICE in Massachusetts.
Two of the bills would ban law enforcement from working with and for ICE by preventing local cops from taking part in ICE arrests or asking people about their immigration status. These bills would also prevent police departments from taking part in an ICE program that turns cops into agents.
A proposed third bill would create a legal fund to help fight against deportations.
Jose Urias is a Temporary Protected Status holder and a business owner who felt that these troubling times will leave a mental scar on their children.
“The trauma we are putting on kids today, they are going to have consequences later,” Urias said.
Director of Advocacy with the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition Gil Calderin spoke about preventing this trauma and protecting Massachusetts residents who need the most support.
“We stand here today because it is our shared responsibility, not only for the sake of immigrant families’ humanity, but for the safety and survival of all of us, to ensure that the law in Massachusetts protects all of us,” Calderin said.
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Senior Advocacy Director for Field Initiatives with ACLU of Massachusetts Laura Rotolo echoed Calderin’s message of coming together for immigrants in danger.
“Unprecedented times require action, there’s no one thing that one person can do that can stop the mass deportation plan, but it must begin here.”
Marcelo Gomes de Silva, a Milford teen who was arrested by ICE, was especially in favor of the third bill.
“Immigrants alone will not be able to fight against the government, especially when they don’t have any help,” he said.
More information regarding MIRA’s work can be found here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Kyle Bray (@KyleBrayWBZ) reports.