Bill > H2575

This bill addresses law enforcement agreements related to federal immigration enforcement, specifically focusing on 8 U.S.C. § 1357(g), which allows state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with federal immigration authorities. The bill establishes strict conditions for such agreements across different levels of Massachusetts law enforcement, including sheriffs, correctional institutions, and other law enforcement agencies. Under the proposed legislation, these entities can only participate in federal immigration enforcement agreements if two key conditions are met: first, all costs associated with the agreement, including employee compensation, must be fully covered by the federal government, and second, a specific state statute must explicitly authorize the agreement. Additionally, the bill mandates transparency by requiring detailed record-keeping and annual reporting of these activities to various legislative committees. Each affected entity (sheriffs, corrections department, and other law enforcement agencies) must maintain public records of their activities under these agreements, which must be open to inspection and reported annually to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the judiciary committee, and the public safety and homeland security committee. This legislation appears aimed at providing greater oversight and control over state and local participation in federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2575